Experts discuss bridging gaps in rural access
to care, social determinants of health for female veterans.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 10,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wounded Warrior
Project® (WWP) will share its innovative approaches to
addressing suicide risk factors at the nation's top conference
dedicated to suicide prevention among military personnel and
veterans.
The 2024 VA/DoD Suicide Prevention Conference is hosted by the
Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Defense. This
year's conference theme is Reimagining Suicide Prevention:
Evolving and Innovating to Meet Diverse Needs.
"Wounded Warrior Project is committed to reducing veteran
suicide," said Jennifer Silva, chief
program officer at WWP™. "We look forward to sharing our novel
approaches and collaborative models and working with the military
and veterans community to scale them and save more lives."
Reducing Service member Suicide in Alaska
WWP warriors surveyed* by WWP in
rural areas were more likely to experience suicidal thoughts in the
past 12 months than those living in urban areas. Rates are even
higher among warriors living in Alaska, where close to 1 in 3 surveyed
warriors said they had suicidal thoughts in the past year.
WWP and Army officials will share how adventure-based learning
and evidence-based interventions are helping to reduce suicides
within U.S. Army Alaska. The base
reduced suicides from 17 in 2021 to four in 2023. U.S. Army
psychologist Capt. Hannah Martinez,
U.S. Army chaplain Maj. John
McDougall, and Meghan Louk,
Project Odyssey® manager at WWP, will explain how WWP
trained Army chaplains to intervene: Innovating Suicide
Prevention in Alaska: US Army's
Partnership with Wounded Warrior Project for a Community-Centered,
Adventure-Based Approach to Emotional Regulation and Coping
Strategies.
Addressing Suicide Risk Factors for Women
Warriors
"Women are breaking down barriers in service to our
country as they become the fastest-growing population among
military service members and veterans. We know they also experience
unique challenges while active duty and after service that can
heighten their risk for suicidal thoughts," said Lindsey Gray, WWP senior suicide prevention
specialist.
WWP's 2023 Women Warrior Report shows rates of suicidal ideation
and attempted suicide are higher among WWP women warriors than male
warriors. Women warriors are also more likely to experience
barriers to care than male warriors.
Gray will lead an interactive discussion exploring the
relationship between social determinants and suicidal thoughts
among women warriors in a panel titled, Post-9/11 Female
Veterans: Social Determinants of Health and Suicide Thoughts and
Behavior. The discussion will explore WWP research with the
personal stories of veterans offering candid insights from their
lived experiences.
The 2024 VA/DoD Suicide Prevention Conference is July 16-18 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon.
*Source: 2022 Warrior Survey, conducted between June 15 and Aug. 24, 2022.
About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded
Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of
warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve
their highest ambition. Learn more about Wounded Warrior
Project.
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SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project