Lifetime members of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
We are lifetime members of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) located in Marshall and Jackson Counties, Alabama. Back in 2017, President Trump directed the VA to look into the inordinate number of veteran suicides and to do something about it. Each state Governor created a task force. Our Governor, Gov. Ivey created “Alabama’s Challenge – Veteran Suicide Prevention Taskforce” in 2018. We waited to see how or what would happen and if the largest non-profit Veteran Organizations (DAV & VFW) would play a role, since we are where the “rubber-meets-the-road”. Silence, crickets, so we decided to do something about it ourselves. We trained three instructors in the Applied Suicide Intervention Strategies Training (ASIST) program, an evidence-based, international suicide intervention program. It is expensive, but well worth it. About $6,000 per individual. Go to LivingWorks.net to find out more.
We train those who would most-likely come in contact with a Veteran in suicidal crisis – Law Enforcement, First-Responders, Veteran Help-Groups, Clergy, Mental Health Practitioners, and Social Service personnel. Intervention is different than prevention. Intervention strategies are used when the person is in the throes of suicidal crisis, they plan and have the means to kill themselves. Prevention are those strategies when the sufferer is in a depressive or hopeless context of wanting to find a way out and are considering options. There is a huge difference, but human CONNECTION is essential in both strategies.
Now that we have instructors who volunteer their time, we are turning our attention to programs which reach out to those isolated Veterans. Our plan is a Veteran’s Service Center, located on Georgia Mountain in Marshall County, Alabama. A 21-acre tract that will include Equestrian Therapy, Paint-Ball Competition Course, Garden Plots, Indoor Shooting Range, Web-Based Gaming, and other collective activities.
From the Mental Health perspective, trained clinicians and psychotherapists will use the latest technologies and trauma-focused therapies to help PREVENT suicidal ideations or intent. We humbly ask for your help.
Dr. Mick & DAV, Marshall County, Alabama