A new initiative aims to help veterans struggling during this time of year.
Veteran advocates are encouraging people to write caring messages to veterans they know for the holiday season. It’s a part of the governor’s challenge to prevent suicide among service members, according to Rick Hamp of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
“This is the time where our veterans may find themselves alone, or feel like they’re alone,” Hamp said. “And a caring message, a connection, could be the difference between the person thinking about committing suicide or that life is worth living and someone cares.”
Hamp says it could be a text, email, or hand-written note. Veterans are more 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than those who never served.
