The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has announced the availability of $52.5 million in grant funding to support local organizations committed to preventing veteran suicide. In 2021, an estimated 6,392 veterans took their own lives.

According to a press release by the VA, the grants will be distributed through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP). Starting from 2025, eligible organizations that apply and are selected by the department will have access to these funds. This round of grants represents the third distribution by the Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Previously, in September 2023, the VA awarded $52.5 million which benefited organizations across 43 states.

The VA's press release further explains that SSG Fox SPGP is a three-year grant program where organizations can apply for up to $750,000 in funding to provide suicide prevention services. The program pays tribute to Veteran Parker Gordon Fox who tragically died by suicide in 2020 at just 25 years old.

The current administration and the VA have prioritized reducing veteran suicide as part of their Unity Agenda Act passed in 2021. In addition to this key objective, in 2022, the VA processed a record-breaking 1.7 million claims by veterans, distributing $128 billion in earned benefits to over 3.1 million veterans. Alongside its focus on reducing veteran suicide rates, the Unity Agenda Act also seeks to provide affordable housing for low-income and homeless veterans.

"Veterans in crisis should always have access to the services and support they need – including mental health screenings, peer support, emergency services, and more," said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. "There are countless great organizations across America that work side-by-side with VA to do this life-saving work, and we are proud to support their efforts."