The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced $10 million in new funding for eligible states, territories, and Tribal governments through cooperative agreements aimed at enhancing Veteran suicide prevention strategies.
These cooperative agreements will provide both funding and technical assistance to establish, coordinate, and manage suicide mortality review committees. These committees are designed to identify and characterize suicide deaths, thereby helping to create a local understanding of suicide. The goal is to identify populations or locations of special concern and inform the development and implementation of data-driven suicide prevention strategies for Veterans.
This initiative supports VA’s National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide, aligns with the Biden-Harris administration’s strategy to reduce military and Veteran suicides, and is part of President Biden’s Unity Agenda for the nation.
"One Veteran suicide is one too many, and we will stop at nothing to end Veteran suicide," said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. "Launching this first-of-its-kind initiative will allow us to better understand suicide deaths and, as a result, deliver better interventions to prevent Veteran suicide."
The initiative also contributes to the objectives of the Governor’s Challenge — a partnership between VA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — which engages 55 states and territories in developing state-wide best practices for preventing suicides among service members, Veterans, and their families.
The funding is designated for one year, with awards expected by September 30, 2024. The application period opened on June 21, 2024, and closes on July 24, 2024 at 4:59 p.m., ET. Further details can be found in the notice of funding opportunity.
