Hamilton County Stronger Veterans Stronger Communities Coalition on the Prevention of Suicide for Service Members, Veterans and their Families/Caregivers
The ‘Stronger Veterans, Stronger Communities’ Coalition on the Prevention of Suicide in Service Members, Veterans, and their Families and Caregivers has been a collaborative effort since late 2021 to reduce the number of veteran suicides in Hamilton County. Under the umbrella and leadership of A Healthier Hamilton County: Systems of Care, anyone is welcome to join the Coalition who is interested in preventing suicide. Members include veteran-serving organizations, non-profits, local government, and other entities throughout the county including volunteers and veterans and service members themselves.
The coalition has teamed up with the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and will be launching the Governor’s Challenge to fight suicide in Veterans here in Hamilton County. We are working collaboratively to leverage all resources for our service members, veterans, and their families to bring meaning and value to their lives. We plan to do this through three the Pillars of the Governor’s Challenge – 1. Identifying the service members, veterans, and their families and caregivers, 2. connecting them to resources no matter the level of need, and 3. promoting safety for those in a suicidal crisis.
As we reach out in our neighborhoods to find or identify our Military Veteran community (MVC) that is not connected, we will have a QR code to Ask the Question, ‘Have you or a family member served in the Military/National Guard? If the person scans this QR code with their cell
phone it will take them to a website where questions based on their Yes/No answer will direct them to the resources they need…… leading us into Pillars 2 and 3 of connecting and promoting lethal means safety to save lives.
We have built a team and grown alongside the Governor’s Challenge with the IDVA, who we recently requested funding to further our projects in here Hamilton County. We were encouraged to think BIG with our ideas and include those organizations that currently serve our Military Veteran community to incorporate their ideas in our 12–24-month strategic plan. This plan will include our Coalition working hand in hand with many community partners to reach our Military and Veterans who are not connected. We will introduce them to those who will get them their benefits and resources they have earned, helping them be more connected thus building stronger Veterans through stronger communities. The more we all know about where to get the benefits and resources we need to address our issues/needs the stronger more connected we all will be!!
Speaking of resources, our partner, the Hamilton County Veterans Corp (HCVC) is hosting a Hamilton County Community Resource Fair July 20, 2024, from 11am to 3pm at the Noblesville Schools Community Center 1775 Field Drive at the north end of the stadium at Noblesville High School. This resource fair is not just for our Military Veteran Community (MVC), it’s for all our Hamilton County neighbors! Sure, maybe 30 resources are specific for our MVC but there will be over 85 resources setup inside and outside the community center to help us all live a more fulfilled life right here in Hamilton County. Bring a Veteran, bring a neighbor!
If you are interested in learning more about how you can work with the ‘Stronger Veterans, Stronger Communities’ Coalition to prevent suicide in Hamilton County’s service members and veterans, email [email protected].
If you are a Veteran or Active Military and wish to become a member of the Hamilton County Veterans Corp, please send an email to [email protected] so you too may help us help our MVC. Our dues is only $25/mo and we meet the first Monday of the month at 7pm at the Fishers American Legion 9091 E 126th St in their big American Room. See you there!