Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency to receive $750,000 in federal funding to help prevent veteran suicide

LANSING, Mich. - Brian L. Love, director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA), is proud to announce that the Agency has once again been chosen to participate in the federal Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. This program, now in its third year, is designed to help community organizations implement tailored suicide prevention programs and services for veterans and their families.

"MVAA is tremendously excited to accept this funding, on behalf of Michigan's more than 516,000 veterans, from the VA's Staff Sgt. Fox Grant program for the third year in a row," says Love. "This funding is vital in supporting MVAA's mental health, suicide and homelessness prevention initiatives impacting Michigan's veteran community."

Created to honor veteran Parker Gordon Fox, an Army sniper instructor who died by suicide at age 25, the Staff Sgt. Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program supports the mental wellness of Michigan veterans and their family members. By identifying specific risk factors that cause mental health struggles or suicidal ideation, the program helps individuals address these areas and thrive in all facets of life.

The Program offers Michigan veterans immediate and ongoing support, including:
• Peer support
• Education on suicide risk and prevention to families and communities
• VA benefits assistance
• Benefit coordination
• Assistance with emergency needs
• Outreach to identify those at risk of suicide

All veterans of any branch or service of the United States Uniformed Services (which includes all Armed Forces) and the families of enrolled program participants are eligible for the program. To get started, veterans should call the MVAA's Michigan Veterans Resource Service Center at 1-800-MICH-VET.

Please note that the Staff Sgt. Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program is not a substitute for the Veteran Crisis Line. If you or a loved one is in crisis, dial 988 and press 1 to talk to a caring, qualified responder.

The MVAA is the central coordinating agency, providing support, care, advocacy and service to veterans and their families. As a state agency, the MVAA works to identify and break down barriers veterans face in employment, education, health care and quality of life, to make Michigan a great place for veterans and their families to call home. More information about the MVAA is available at Michigan.gov/MVAA.