As part of his commitment to improving support for veterans, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., invited a Florida-based non-profit, the Fire Watch, to give a Veteran Suicide Intervention Training during the upcoming meeting of his Veterans Advisory Committee.
Florida has the third highest veteran population in the country and according to the Fire Watch’s data, more than 530 veterans have taken their lives in Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties from 2010-2021. The suicide prevention training will take place on Friday, October 27, 2023, at the Brooksville City Council Chamber located at 201 Howell Avenue, Brooksville, FL 34601. The one-hour training will start at 12:00 p.m. This free training is also open to the public and the press is welcome to attend. RSVPs are requested by email FL12.RSVP@mail.house.gov or by phone 727-232-2921.
“While some progress has been made, veteran suicide statistics remain staggering and unacceptable,” said Bilirakis. “The approach we’ve historically taken is woefully insufficient. We simply must do better and that starts by engaging the community in the fight against veteran suicide. Each of us can play a part in helping to prevent these tragedies from occurring. Participating in this evidence-based training is one step we can all take to become a part of the solution. We’ve seen that the program works, and I’m proud to bring it to stakeholders in my district.
The Fire Watch monitors veteran suicides by county in Florida and offers virtual and in-person suicide intervention training to individuals and businesses. Those who complete the training are referred to as Watch Standers. To date, there are more than 5,000 Watch Standers throughout Florida who are actively looking to identify warning signs and connect veterans in need with available community resources and mental health professionals. In areas of the state with the highest number of Watch Standers, veteran suicide was reduced by nearly 50 percent from 2019-2021.
“It’s critically important that we empower the community with the resources they need to approach Veterans who may be in crisis,” said Brianne Brown, an Air Force veteran and Central Florida Regional Programs Director for the Fire Watch. “We’re grateful for Congressman Bilirakis’s passion for serving Veterans by training community stakeholders to recognize suicidal warning signs and volunteering to be a lifeline to those who have served.”
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