Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Director Wanda Wright and ACMF Project Director Nicola Winkel attended a Veteran Suicide Prevention Workshop hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Deloitte in Washington, DC, in October 2022. The purpose of the workshop was to develop action plans for addressing suicide in three focus populations: women, rural and American Indian veterans. The two-day event featured remarks and panels from leaders from the VA, Department of Defense, and other key entities, as well as intensive workgroup sessions. 

A key takeaway from all three workgroups was that social isolation and disconnection from support are essential to focus on to reduce suicide risk. 

Workgroup members will continue to work together to develop and implement the action plans. 

In Arizona, we are zeroing in on reducing social isolation through our new Coaching Into Connection program, which will launch in 2023