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Suicide Prevention

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Our 
Story

Background.   Suicide remains a pressing public health challenge among U.S. veterans, particularly those aged 18 to 34. Huntsville, Alabama hosts a dedicated network of eight organizations committed to veteran mental health and suicide prevention. This proposal outlines a strategy to enhance collaboration among these entities, strengthen service delivery, and expand access to proactive prevention measures through targeted funding and community partnerships.

 

The Phoenix Project is a community-based initiative designed to reduce veteran suicide and improve quality of life through a holistic, trauma-informed, and culturally competent approach. By establishing a one-stop resource hub, the program provides veterans with access to workforce development, mental health support, mentoring, and life skills training. 

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Veteran suicide remains a national emergency. According to the 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, veterans aged 18–34 die by suicide at rates 1.65 times higher than other veteran age groups, and firearm-related suicides remain significantly more common among veterans than their civilian peers.

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Veterans face unique psychological and social stressors including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, reintegration challenges, and housing instability—all of which contribute to heightened suicide risk. While Huntsville benefits from a robust foundation of supportive agencies, increased coordination and prevention infrastructure are needed to better address the complexities of veteran suicide.

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While the COVID-19 pandemic did not appear to increase suicide rates directly, all-cause mortality among VA-affiliated veterans rose significantly, underscoring the urgent need for grassroots, accessible, and holistic prevention programming. These tragic outcomes are often compounded by systemic risk factors, including poverty, substance abuse, social isolation, and inadequate access to care.

 

Background and Target Population

Alabama is home to approximately 310,000 veterans, with the North Alabama corridor encompassing urban and rural communities like Huntsville, Decatur, Florence, and Scottsboro estimated to house 60,000–75,000 veterans. Despite representing a vital component of the state’s population, this group remains disproportionately affected by suicide risk and behavioral health challenges.

 

Risk Profile

Veteran suicide in North Alabama reflects alarming behavioral patterns that exceed both state and national civilian averages:

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  • Veterans account for 18% of suicide deaths in Alabama, though they make up only 9.1% of the general population. 

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  • Male veterans exhibit suicide rates 1.3 times higher than civilian counterparts; female veterans face an even starker disparity 2.1 times higher than non-veteran women.

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  • The suicide rate among young veterans (ages 18–34) has surged to 48.5 per 100,000, indicating behavioral health vulnerabilities during the reintegration period post-service.

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These data points signal not only a behavioral health crisis but an urgent gap in preventive infrastructure across North Alabama.

 

Strategy 

Develop multiple campaigns and initiatives that will work towards a common goal: Empowering Leaders and their personnel to increase morale, cohesion, and readiness by recognizing when someone needs help, decreasing barriers to help-seeking, and creating a culture in which Military and Civilian and their families thrive.

 

 

Create an environment that people feel a sense of belonging by communicating in ways in which people feel valued and their contributions are meaningful.

   

Disseminate Information and Create Media Campaigns to the local populous such as monthly Wellness Newsletters.  Incorporate advertisement campaigns to assure involvement of outside agencies (e.g., CG and Public Service Announcements, Policy Letters, Outdoor Recreation, Soldier & Family Readiness Center, and MWR).

 

Conduct Prevention Education through Leadership Development that is designed to provide an early intervention and ensure that those most familiar with the troops (e.g., direct supervisors) provide appropriate intervention.

 

Develop unit activities to create esprit decors (e.g., golf and bowling outings, wellness walks, intramural, and installation-related leisure activities. The purpose of this strategy is to improve the non-use norms and attitudes (make them more salient).  Additionally, this will strengthen life skills which do not include high risk behaviors.

 

Create an “Environmental Approach” which will be operationalized as identifying the costs of “business as usual”.  This strategy is composed of working with MWR programs, Ready and Resiliency Council and local agencies to promote Health Promotions and Work Life Balance).  The primary goal of this strategy is to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors.

 

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Resources ​

The 2021 Behavioral Health Guidebook

 This guidebook highlights how to better support your workforce in 2021, while creating more productive, higher performing teams that DO get the job done.

 

The 2021 guidebook will teach you how to bridge the gaps of your existing benefits, meet the current demands of a post-COVID era, and create a more effective solution that:

  • Reduces overall healthcare costs

  • Maximizes existing investments

  • Promotes a healthier current and future workforce

  • Builds a ROI from prioritizing employee behavioral health

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https://learn.mindwise.org/bh-guidebook?utm_campaign=BH%20-%20General%20Marketing%20Campaign&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=113704850&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_r4VbWqk6chWUAm2Wk7K4l-nzWfYq9BSK0NST6N142QQYvQmmsm9etZwONg0UuWNYYn1HZrjYI0wO_uYY0Y6zAYbDPz8ihC7wnVa5u4x0fwJlHFRg&utm_content=113704850&utm_source=hs_email

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Stigma

Stigma is one of the biggest factors in military member's reluctance to seek help, and it is the job of military leaders to change the culture. If you are in need, you should be praised for seeking help as an act of preparedness. And if you help a peer who is struggling with mental health issues, you should be praised for your willingness to help a fallen comrade. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uCGrsUQeeI

 

Effects on Your Career

Effects on Your Career: Military personnel admit their worries that seeking help might prevent them from progressing in their military career. But instead, it is a lack of discipline and good judgment (such as those caused by mental health issues like PTSD), that are more likely to have a negative impact. Seeking help is how you can maintain a good career. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5Uiy1WPPgI

 

Taking Care of Yourself (for Family Members)

Military wives talk about their decisions to seek help, and the strength that they developed. Once they regained control, they were able to help others with their struggles, and were more prepared for other challenges that lay ahead. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6q7Il9Pbh0

 

Laurence Fishburne talks about suicide prevention. http://youtu.be/8Vd1psaSPm0

 

Director of Network Development for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline talks about losing her sister to suicide. Lidia also speaks about the work she now does for the Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK. http://youtu.be/MvjEmRBuKiU

 

Suicide does not only impact adults, teens talk about suicide: http://youtu.be/bRMkbrHEQtk

Identify Problems in Advance

 

Military personnel are trained to identify and resolve problems. To be a good service member, you should recognize when something is wrong, and seek the help you need. Service members and spouses in this video discuss the importance of seeking help early, before the problems escalate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpXvdu0JZP4

 

Stories of Hope and Recovery series features the story of Terry Wise, a well-known author and speaker and co-chair for the Lifeline Consumer and Survivor Subcommittee. This video won a gold award as part of the 16th Annual National Health Information Awards in the Patient Education category:

http://youtu.be/rlXRavVgxJY

 

It’s a Sign of Strength to Seek Help

Military chaplains and others recognize the importance of seeking help for mental health issues, just as you would for physical wounds. Preparedness is praised and expected in the military, and you are a more responsible service member for assessing the situation and recognizing when to ask for help. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDiMHopqYUo

 

There are different types of suicidal thoughts.  http://youtu.be/hGqyPy1xNEw

 

Taking Care of Yourself (for Family Members)

Military wives talk about their decisions to seek help, and the strength that they developed. Once they regained control, they were able to help others with their struggles, and were more prepared for other challenges that lay ahead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6q7Il9Pbh0

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Resources for families, parents and children:

·  Teens and suicide: What parents need to know (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Suicide prevention services and resources for parents of teens

·  What To Do If You’re Concerned About Your Teen’s Mental Health (JED)
A conversation guide

·  Directing Change
Program and film contest

·  Virtual Therapy for Young People (AAKOMA)
Mental health resources for youths of color

 

Resources for LGBTQ+: 

 

Resources for Persons and Communities of Color:

 

Resources for educators:

 

Suicide prevention resources for schools

 

Resources for therapists and mental health professionals:

 

Resources if you have lost someone to suicide:

 

Resources for and assisting suicide-attempt survivors:

 

Resources for media:

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Let’s Work Together

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Huntsville Alabama 35898

Roderick.Johnson@veteranconnectonline.net

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Tel: 256-836-5776

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