Across the diverse regions and communities of our great nation, the month of September is a month of observance that serves as a reminder of significant achievements, heritage appreciation, safety precautions, and health awareness. While the other days of observance listed above honor important causes; suicide prevention holds a special place in Visionary’s mission due to our longstanding commitment to supporting Veterans and their mental health. In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, we proudly champion the White House Priority Goals on Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide, further aligning with our dedication to enhancing care and providing essential resources to those who have served.

As we close out this final month of the federal government’s fiscal year, Visionary Consulting Partners, a proud industry partner of the federal government, particularly the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), wishes all citizens a safe and supportive National Suicide Prevention Month. Throughout the month, our team members each took a breath to reflect on the current state of suicide prevention in this country and our impact on its progression and accessibility for all. We implore you to take a moment to do the same for the communities in your local environment and any friends, colleagues, or loved ones you may not know are struggling with personal mental crisis. Does everyone you are close to know their options? Do you?

Too often, suicide prevention is a top focus for those raising awareness, yet they may lack the support or resources needed to reach a wider audience. However, all mental health specialists agree on the importance of early intervention when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis. For instance, with Veterans beneficial outreach and engagement should commence as soon as they begin to transition from active duty to Veteran status.

Last year, Visionary supported the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP) in evaluating the paid media campaign focused on alerting Veterans of the new access number for the Veterans Crisis Line – Dial 988 then Press 1. From this independent assessment, we took a deep dive into the multimodal strategy and presented detailed recommendations for how to reach more Veterans, especially those outside the VHA system and those in harder to reach, often underserved, communities.

A few ways to seek AND GET help you or a loved one needs:
Your local Department of Health | Suicide & Crisis Line (Dial 988) – Veterans Dial 988 then Press 1 | Local
doctor’s offices, walk-in clinics, hospitals | Local Community Advocacy Centers

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, here are some warning signs that someone may be at
immediate risk for attempting suicide:

• Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves
• Talking about feeling empty or hopeless or having no reason to live
• Talking about feeling trapped or feeling that there are no solutions
• Feeling unbearable emotional or physical pain
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Giving away important possessions
• Saying goodbye to friends and family
• Putting affairs in order, such as making a will
• Taking great risks that could lead to death, such as driving extremely fast
• Talking or thinking about death often

Other serious warning signs that someone may be at risk include:

• Displaying extreme mood swings, suddenly changing from very sad to very calm or happy
• Making a plan or looking for ways to kill themselves, such as searching for lethal methods online,stockpiling pills, or buying a gun
• Talking about feeling great guilt or shame
• Using alcohol or drugs more often
• Acting anxious or agitated
• Changing eating or sleeping habits
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge

Our goal remains to keep doing what we can to promote optimal health in all forms and transform lives for the better.