‘It takes all of us’: Beyond thanking veterans, nonprofit asks people to learn signs of suicide risk

On this Veterans Day, we want to thank our military men and women for the sacrifices they’ve made to serve our country.

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We also want to shed light on a nonprofit here in Florida, The Fire Watch, that’s turning that gratitude into action.

It’s empowering neighbors to lift up veterans who may be at risk for suicide.

According to The Fire Watch, in 2019, Northeast Florida lost 78 veterans to suicide. In 2020, that number dropped to 46. But this group wants that to go down to zero.

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Nick Howland has an ask for everyone on this Veterans Day: “Beyond just thanking a veteran for their service, one of the things you can do is take 30 to 40 minutes out of your schedule,” he said.

The Jacksonville councilmember, who is running for re-election for the At-Large Group 3 seat, is also the executive of The First Watch, a nonprofit leading Florida’s fight to end veteran suicide by empowering people to take action.

“Learn the warning signs,” he said. “You can wrap your arm around the individual and get them the help they need.”

Everyone can learn more during a free, 30-minute training course The Fire Watch set up online (HYPERLINK: https://www.thefirewatch.org/watch-standers).

“We’re not asking people to be mental health clinicians,” he pointed out. “It’s a simple program.”

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It teaches about signs like isolation and substance abuse, which can stem from a loss of identity after leaving the service. Howland says he can relate since he was a U.S. naval officer from 1995 to 1999.

“We all experience it when we leave the service,” he shared. “Once you leave… you’re on your own.”

The Fire Watch wants tips people learn from that training to be easy to remember when they encounter a veteran who needs help.

There’s an important acronym everyone can memorize. It’s called SAVE.

S: Look for signs that a veteran is in crisis

A: Ask that veteran if they’re thinking of hurting themselves

V: Validate the veteran’s experience

E: Expedite getting that veteran help

These are also printed on wallet cards that people who complete the course receive. On the back are important numbers, like 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and 211 for United Way of Northeast Florida.

Howland says he’s already used it to help a veteran experiencing homelessness.

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“I actually pulled out that wallet card, together we called 211 and a case was opened and he was helped,” he said.

But still, Howland stresses, “We can’t just rely on veterans helping veterans. It takes all of us.”

The course is also expanding into other sectors.

According to a press release, The Fire Watch has also been awarded a grant by the State of Florida to provide suicide prevention training to all Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) Veteran Claims Examiners (VCEs) and County Veteran Service Officers (CVSOs) across the state.

Launching in January 2023, the six-hour, in-person training sessions will be held in eight locations across Florida. The Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program (SB 1712, HB 1315) was sponsored by Sen. Danny Burgess and Rep. Ben Diamond and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2022-2023 state budget.

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The Fire Watch — in collaboration with Florida LEADS Zero Suicide Project, PsychArmor Institute, and the Steve A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone — will administer the training to nearly 400 participants in cohorts throughout the state. In addition to providing suicidal behavior awareness training, The Fire Watch will educate participants on geographic-specific veteran suicide trends and on best-practice suicide screening tools.

The intensive training provided to VCEs and CVSOs will parallel the similar, less intensive program The Fire Watch uses to promote awareness and prevention of veteran suicide among communities in Florida.

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For more information on The Fire Watch, or to register to become a Watch Stander, please visit www.thefirewatch.org or please visit www.thefirewatch.org.

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