ACMF_logo_primary_full color_x2 _1_ _1_.jpg

September 2021 E-News

Welcome to the September edition of our monthly email newsletter. In this issue, read more about our efforts during Suicide Prevention Month, learn about the 2021 Arizona Veteran Survey and read articles from our special guest contributors, Jon Perez, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer with The NARBHA Institue and Kelli Donley, M.P.H.

Thomas Winkel, MA, LPC, NCC

Director

Arizona Coali tion for Military Families

From the Desk of Thomas Winkel

Help Guide Our Future Efforts

Each year in September, the nation comes together to observe Suicide Prevention Month. At the Arizona Coalition for Military Families, we are working harder than ever to bring forward programs and initiatives that provide upstream suicide prevention to offer the compassion, care, resources and support people need well before they reach the crisis stage. You can help guide these future efforts by taking part in the 2021 Arizona Veteran Survey.

Be Connected CEV_Vertical-Regular Font.jpg

A Conversation with Jon Perez, Ph.D. - The NARBHA Institute

A founding member of the Secure Your Weapon development team discusses how he coined the phrase and shares how the initiative was born.

Literally hundreds of millions of dollars and years of effort have gone into veteran suicide prevention, without much positive movement. Clearly, something was missing. But what, and how to address it?

Suicide Prevention Starts With Securing Your Weapon

- Kelli Donley Williams, M.P.H.

Research shows that access to a firearm in the home increases the risk of suicide death by 300% and that adolescent suicides often involved the use of an unlocked firearm kept within the home.

One way that you can play a role in working to reduce suicide in Arizona is by learning contemporary facts from trusted sources and taking simple safety precautions.

Secure Your Weapon - Honor Your Military Tradition

Social Media Highlights

Resource Highlight

Secure Your Weapon: Promoting Gun Hygiene to Prevent Suicides

- Jon Perez, Ph.D. and Kelli Donley Williams, M.P.H.

ACMF-Secure-Your-Weapon-slides-Williams-Perez-2021.pdf_Page_01.png

Learn more at ConnectVeterans.org/SecureYourWeapon

Real Stories of Our Impact

Safety Plan

A Be Connected navigator assisted a veteran in developing a plan for safety after the veteran reported having suicidal ideations. The veteran takes care of her husband, who is bedridden and is also a veteran. She was certain that she was unable to take care of her husband, and have time to address her mental health concerns.

Learn How Be Connected Helped

“You have brought me some hope today.”

A navigator with the Career Navigation team reached out to a client who had not been responsive for months. The client, who is a service member, answered the call and mentioned that he had been very discouraged with his career search.

Read How Be Connected Assisted

Our Be Connected team is standing by to assist all service members, veterans, family members and community helpers statewide with connection to information, support and resources. Call 866-429-8387 to connect today!