VA Governor heading efforts to decrease suicide through pilot program for service members, veterans, and families

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is leading the charge on suicide prevention for service members, veterans, and their families.

Last Friday, Northam announced a pilot program called Virginia Identify, Screen, and Refer Pilot, which hopes to help screen individuals for suicide risk, and refer them to appropriate services. Additionally, issues will be addressed such as creating better communication between military and healthcare providers, and education about the number of services courtesy of the pilot program available to the targeted group. The following local entities are slated to participate in the program:

(Hospitals)
Ballad Health Clearview Psychiatric Center (Lebanon, Virginia)
Ballad Health Ridgeview Pavilion Psychiatric Facility (Bristol, Virginia)

(Community Services)
Mount Rogers Community Services Board
New River Valley Community Services

The pilot program is part of the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide, and Virginia has joined Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, and Texas as part of the program. The pilot program runs through September 2020.

Courtesy of Image: Governor Northam’s Office