WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF) is one of ten states and two territories awarded funding by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to gain a deeper understanding of veteran suicide. Through a Suicide Mortality Review (SMR) Cooperative Agreement, Arizona will identify specific populations or regions of concern and develop data-driven strategies to prevent suicide among veterans statewide.
From 2015 to 2022, veterans accounted for one in five (20.4%) suicide victims in Arizona. Across all racial and ethnic groups, veterans were at a higher risk of suicide compared to non-veterans. In partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), the Arizona Department of Veteran Services (ADVS), and the Arizona Coalition for Military Families (ACMF), the GOYFF will invest approximately $575,000 to enhance Arizona’s efforts in reviewing suicide mortality among veterans, improving the understanding of suicide deaths within the state, and facilitating targeted interventions to prevent these tragedies. The investment will expand collaborative efforts with local health partners and the ACMF to enhance the Arizona Veteran Verification Program. It will also support the generation of prevention recommendations based on case reviews, implement risk reduction training, and develop culturally relevant outreach, training, and engagement initiatives throughout Arizona.
The cooperative agreements are part of a broader initiative to SMR initiative under the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF), a collaboration between the VA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that established a national network focused on suicide prevention. These awards support the VA’s National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide, the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan to reduce suicide rates among military personnel and Veterans, and the newly published National Strategy for Suicide Prevention Federal Action Plan.
“This funding plays a crucial role in advancing our understanding and development of specialized programs focused on preventing suicide among Arizona’s veterans in communities statewide,” said the GOYFF Director Tonya Hamilton. “I am elated to partner with our sister state agencies and collaborate with the Arizona Coalition for Military Families (ACMF), a veteran-led organization that plays a pivotal role in supporting Arizona’s service members and their families. I appreciate the unwavering dedication shown over the past year to secure this funding, and I look forward to the positive outcomes it will bring.”
About the Suicide Mortality Review (SMR) Cooperative Agreement
The funds awarded through the Suicide Mortality Review (SMR) Cooperative Agreement are federally authorized and distributed by the United States (US) Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Read the Press Release here.
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