WASHINGTON — The most recent National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, published in November, revealed that 6,392 veterans died by suicide in 2021.
That's 114 more veterans' deaths than the year before, and lawmakers are concerned.
"One death alone from suicide is one too many, but it is a sobering reality that the loss of just one veteran has a profound ripple effect on their fellow veterans, their families and the communities," said Rep Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) during a hearing Tuesday of the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health Oversight.
"Even though we may have a dip from year to year, the overall rise is still unacceptable," Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Michigan) added.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has taken numerous steps to try to combat the problem-including one new community-based outreach program, in an effort to reach vets where they live.
The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program was designed by Congress three years ago to enable the Veterans Affairs Department to provide resources toward community-based suicide prevention efforts outside traditional clinical settings.
Under the program, last year, the VA awarded $52.5 million to 80 organizations in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and American Samoa.
On Tuesday, the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health Oversight got an update on how the program is going.
"As of October 31st, 2023, grantees have conducted approximately 20,000 outreach contacts and engaged over 3,500 participants. Suicide is preventable. And each of us has a role to play. This is our mission, and we're so thankful you're with us along on this journey," said Dr. Erica Scavella, Assistant Undersecretary for Health for Clinical Services, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Still, despite such encouraging statistics, committee members, although generally supportive of the initiative, were cautious.
"I think that this particular grant program has great opportunities to be wildly successful. It could be wildly a failure as well, if we're not doing the proper oversight," said Rep. Julia Brownley (R-California).
The program is named after Army Veteran Parker Gordon Fox.
He was a Staff Sergeant and a sniper instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
He died by suicide in July 2020, at the age of 25.