As Veterans Day 2023 approaches, Visionary salutes all of America’s Veterans and would like to take the opportunity to reflect on our recent partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address a pressing issue that impacts our Nation’s heroes: the alarming rate of Veteran suicide.
Under the leadership of our Chief Operating Officer (COO) Michael D. Thornton, Sr. (Mike), a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Air Force, as lead Project Manager for this effort, Visionary had the distinct honor of supporting the VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. The collaborative effort focused on evaluating the effectiveness of a paid media campaign designed to inform Veterans of the suicide prevention hotline’s new access number, instructing Veterans to “Dial 988 then Press 1” to reach qualified mental health assistance.
Mike states that, “as a Veteran-owned small business, we are deeply committed to the men and women of our Armed Forces and fellow Veterans. Our mission remains aligned with the VA’s goal to prevent Veteran suicide, and it was a privilege to work together on this critical initiative.”
The media campaign aims to raise awareness and increase the usage of the new access number, and our support helped detail its success among various Veteran demographics, particularly those deemed higher-risk and in harder to reach locations. The key to achieving this was the participation of individual Veterans in a comprehensive survey and series of focus groups, helping to gauge the campaign’s progress and its impact on the targeted audiences.
This Veterans Day, Visionary underscores the significance of the holiday dedicated to honoring America’s Veterans for their patriotism and devotion to our country and we express our deep gratitude for their service to our country. In contrast, Memorial Day, observed in May, is a time to pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation, remembering our fallen heroes. Both holidays hold equal importance in our hearts, and at Visionary we remain committed to supporting and advocating for Veterans in every possible way. “We want to extend our sincere gratitude to the Department of Veterans Affairs for entrusting us with this important project,” Mike continues. “It allowed us to contribute to the collective effort of curbing Veteran suicide, and we also extend our sincere thanks to the Veteran Service Organizations, Community – Based Organizations, our fellow Veterans, and the Veteran community for their unwavering dedication to the Project and this critical mission.”
In closing, Visionary stands united with Veterans and the VA in the ongoing mission to prevent Veteran suicide. This mission exemplifies our commitment to making a positive impact and serving those who have always served us so faithfully.
