Assessing & Managing Suicide Risk

VTSC partners with Forefront to offer Assessing & Managing Suicide Risk at a reduced cost. The goal is a community safe from suicide. 

DATE: October 28, 2016 at 9:00am to: 4:30pm
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Click for more information and to register.

“Our lives are built around stories. It’s the fabric of society,” says Tom Skerritt, whose Red Badge Project helps Wounded Warriors use storytelling to explore their emotions and heal invisible wounds. (Photo by Katie M. Simmons)

Representative David Jolly has introduced H.R. 4640, the Veteran Suicide Prevention Act.  If enacted, this bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to complete a review and report of the deaths by suicide of all veterans under VA care during the five-year period preceding enactment.  This review would include the following: 
 

• the total number of veterans who died by suicide;
• a summary that includes age, gender, and race;
• medications that were prescribed to, and found in the systems of, veterans at the time of death, and a summary of diagnoses that led to the prescribing of such medications;
• the number of instances in which each veteran was concurrently on multiple medications prescribed by VA;
• the percentage of veterans who were not taking any medication prescribed by VA;
• the percentage of veterans with combat experience or trauma;
• a listing of VA facilities with markedly high prescription and patient suicide rates;
• a description of VA prescribing policies; and
• recommendations to improve the safety and well-being of veterans under VA care.

 
The bill would require VA to report to Congress the extent to which veterans who died by suicide were being prescribed medications carrying "black box" warnings.  It would also mandate VA to report prescribing policies related to black box medications.
 
Please write your Representative today to urge co-sponsorship and enactment of this bill. As always, thank you for your advocacy in participating in the Commander's Action Network.

Background:  Gypsy moths are the worst forest insect pest ever introduced in the United States. The gypsy moth destroys millions of acres of trees where it is established in Eastern and Mid-Western states. Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has successfully prevented the gypsy moth from becoming established in Washington for almost 40 years.
 
Current Control Efforts:  In 2015, WSDA had an unusually large trapping of gypsy moths in Western Washington. To eradicate this pest, WSDA is proposing to treat seven sites in Western Washington: Seattle, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Kent, Nisqually, Lacey, and Vancouver. In all, more than 10,000 acres will be treated. The treatments will involve application of a naturally occurring soil bacteria, Btk, with helicopters or small planes over the sites. There will be 3 – 5 applications, each of which will be 4 – 10 days apart.
 
Potential Impact on Veterans:  The noise from helicopters or low flying airplanes may be an issue for military veterans suffering from PTSD or other challenges. That is why WSDA would like to ensure veterans residing in the proposed treatment areas are aware of these plans.
 
Learn More and Sign Up for Notification:  Veterans may visit www.agr.wa.gov/gypsymoth to learn more about the proposed treatment project and find maps of the proposed treatment areas. They may also click here to sign up for notifications vie e-mail, text message, or phone call. Notifications will be sent out shortly before each treatment.
 
 
Karla Salp
Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist
Washington State Department of Agriculture
PO Box 42560 |Olympia, WA 98504-2560
Cell: (360) 480-5397 |Office: (360) 902-2178
ksalp@agr.wa.gov |www.agr.wa.gov

The Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) provides a rigorous entrepreneurial learning and development opportunity for service-disabled veterans and those who have uniquely distinguished themselves in the military. It is designed for
veterans who are interested in starting a venture as a means to financial independence or that have an existing small business that they would like to grow.​

At the January 7th meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1040 in Lynnwood, a Wounded Warrior quilt was presented to VFW and Legionnaire member Ben Hawkins. The quilt was sponsored by Charlie LaNasa and made by Cheryl Thomas. Pictured are LaNasa (left), Hawkins, VFW Post Commander Richie Richter and Cheryl Thomas (right).