Each year in September, the nation comes together to observe Suicide Prevention Month. For those of us who are working toward these goals daily, this month offers an opportunity to raise awareness beyond our daily collaborators, to a wider audience. At the Arizona Coalition for Military Families, we are working harder than ever to bring forward programs and initiatives that provide upstream suicide prevention to offer the compassionate, caring, resources and support people need well before they reach the crisis stage.

As part of our upstream model, we take a data-informed approach to be sure that the services and programs we deliver are aligned with the needs of the people we serve and the partners we collaborate with to achieve that shared mission. To make sure we have an accurate and timely view of the needs of our state’s diverse population of service members, veterans and their families, we conduct the Arizona Veteran Survey every two years with our data team from Arizona State University. We developed the 2021 survey to identify the evolving needs that exist within our state. The information we collect through the survey guides the decisions we make to apply resources and develop services and program to support those needs so that every service member, veteran, their family members and caregivers have access to a robust network of people and programs to give support and offer services at the right time to prevent a crisis that can push someone to consider suicide. 

The more we hear from diverse populations, the more we can tailor our outreach and resources. Our goal is to have a representative group of Arizona service members, veterans, their spouses/partners and children over 18 years old complete the survey. Caregivers to veterans and veteran supportive community members are also highly encouraged to take the survey. 

My hope is that as part of your work during Suicide Prevention Month, you will devote 10 minutes to take the survey yourself and 5 minutes to share the survey with people you know that are serving, have served, or care for someone who has served.

Taking the survey is as easy as clicking the green “Take the Survey” button at www.ConnectVeterans.org/Survey and sharing the survey is as easy copying and pasting this simple message: 

The Arizona Coalition for Military Families is asking our participation in a brief survey so they can focus resources on the needs of service members, veterans and their families in Arizona. I’ve already taken the survey and I’m sharing this link so you will too. Responses are completely anonymous. At the end of your survey, you can opt into a drawing for a gift card. Learn more and take the survey at www.ConnectVeterans.org/Survey.

Thank you for being an important part of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families.
 

Support is Available

Be Connected provides support and connection to resources to all service members, veterans, family members and helpers. Call 866-429-8387.

If you, or anyone you know, is considering suicide, know that caring people are just a phone call or text away. The free, confidential Veteran Crisis Line is available 24/7/365 at 800-273-8255 – Press 1 or text them at 838255.