December 2024

Arizona has been selected by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as one of 12 recipients to receive funding to enhance Suicide Mortality Review (SMR) programming. This funding, part of a $4 million cooperative agreement distributed to 10 states and two territories, marks an important step forward in understanding and preventing suicide among veterans. With these resources, Arizona will strengthen its Veteran Suicide Mortality Review (VSMR) program over the next year, paving the way for more effective, community-driven interventions to support Arizona’s veteran population.

In collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family, the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services and the Arizona Department of Health Services, we will work together to  improve our collective understanding of suicide deaths among veterans in Arizona and work to target interventions to prevent future tragedies.

The SMR initiative is a key component of the VA’s Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families, developed in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This national network brings together state and community leaders, policymakers, and support organizations to identify actionable solutions for suicide prevention, especially for those who have served.

The new funding will allow Arizona to expand the work of SMR committees, which work to conduct comprehensive reviews of suicide deaths, identify risk factors, and implement tailored prevention strategies. The high-quality, uniform suicide data that is gathered will be used to inform and target prevention actions that address veterans’ unique needs. Arizona’s participation will also help expand the national effort to turn data into meaningful prevention initiatives, adding to a coordinated national effort to  provide veterans and their families with the right support in the right places at the right time to reduce suicide.

With suicide rates among veterans outpacing those in the general population, the urgency for evidence-based, community-level suicide prevention efforts cannot be overstated. Arizona’s commitment to expanding SMR programming reflects the state’s dedication to improving the quality of life and mental health support for veterans, service members, and their families.

The support from the VA’s cooperative agreement will help drive real progress in veteran suicide prevention in Arizona and across the country.