Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Assistance for Veterans

Resource Availability Family Tapestry (RAFT) suicide prevention program

Mission Statement: The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance (RAFT) aims to provide Service Members, Veterans, and their Families with a comprehensive approach aiding in the prevention, intervention, and postvention of those at risk of suicide.

Introduction: Established in 2023, The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance (RAFT) program aims to support our state veterans, service members, and their families by offering a wide array of resources to combat the nationwide effort to end suicide. The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance R.A.F.T. Program collectively partners with Federal, State, and Local agencies by bringing awareness.

Goals established by the R.A.F.T. Program will be achieved through the following measures:

Reducing the stigma associated with accessing mental health services.
Reducing the stigma associated with accessing mental health services.
Establishing and strengthening community partnerships.
Educating community partners on identifying Service Members, Veterans, and Families who are at risk.

Governor’s Challenge

https://veterans.wv.gov/GCP/Pages/default.aspx

Veterans and Service Members in West Virginia are at significantly higher risk of dying by suicide than non-veterans in the state. We lose several dozen Veterans per year despite the many organizations, agencies, and people at work to prevent the crisis of suicide.

The Federal Department of Veterans Affairs and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration launched the Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) in early 2019. West Virginia has had an active team since 2020.

The goal of the program is to bring together leaders in local, state, and federal government, nonprofit organizations, service providers, and communities to align efforts to prevent veteran suicide.

Suicide is a complex issue with no single cause. Risk factors can include such things as - a prior suicide attempt, certain mental health conditions such as PTSD and Depression, Substance Abuse Disorder, and many more.

High-stress life events can also lead to increased risk. Veterans are trained to handle many challenges, but no one is immune from life's stresses and difficulties.

Life events that can cause high levels of stress may include things such as transitioning from military service to civilian life, losing a job, divorce, the passing of a loved one, financial difficulty, housing insecurity, food insecurity, and more.

It is better to deal with the underlying causes that can lead one to crisis before they develop into a suicide attempt. Governor's Challenge team members are provided with the tools and contacts to support these efforts.

The Governor's Challenge Team in West Virginia needs additional members willing to work toward the goal of eliminating Veteran suicide within the state. We need members who focus on mental and physical health. However, we also need community and veteran service organizations - people who may know the struggling veterans in their area- so we can work together to get them the help they need.

Veteran Centric Nonprofits

The Mission Continues

The Mission Continues empowers veterans to adjust to life at home and find new missions. They redeploy veterans so that their shared legacy will be action and service. The Mission Continues has successfully helped thousands of post-9/11 veterans transition by focusing their talents and energy on tackling challenges at home.

Project Healing Waters

Project Healing Waters is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities, including education and outings.

Helping Heroes

Helping Heroes, located in Wheeling, provides veterans with emergency shelter, intensive case management, rental and utility assistance, help to secure permanent housing, and more.

Operation Jackson County Veterans

Operation Jackson County Veterans’ mission is to support, encourage, and honor Veterans in Jackson County, WV.

Vet Centers

Mental Health Care Providers

Mental Health Services

Appalachian Community Health Center

Randolph County

Phone: (304)-636-3232 Or Toll-Free at 1-888-357-3232

Website: http://www.achcinc.org/

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

East Ridge Health Systems

Berkeley County

Phone: (304) 263-8954

24/7 Crisis Line: 1-855-807-1258

Website: https://www.eastridgehealthsystems.org/

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jefferson County

Phone: (304) 725-7565

24/7 Crisis Line: 1-855-807-1258

Website: https://www.eastridgehealthsystems.org/

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Morgan County

Phone: (304) 258-2889

24/7 Crisis Line: 1-855-807-1258

Website: https://www.eastridgehealthsystems.org/

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

FMRS Health Systems, Inc.

Raleigh County

Phone: 304-256-7100

24/7 Crisis Line: 304-256-7100

Website: https://www.fmrs.org/

Fayette County

Phone: 304-574-2100

24/7 Crisis Line: 304-256-7100

Website: https://www.fmrs.org/

Monroe County

Phone: 304-772-5452

24/7 Crisis Line: 304-256-7100

Website: https://www.fmrs.org/

Summers County

Phone: 304-466-3899

24/7 Crisis Line: 304-256-7100

Website: https://www.fmrs.org/

HealthWays Inc.

Brooke County

Phone: 304-723-5440

24/7 Crisis Line: 304-723-6593

Website: https://www.healthwaysinc.com/

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Logan Mingo Area Mental Health

Mingo County

Phone: (304) 235-2954

24/7 Crisis Line: (304)-235-2954

Website: http://www.lmamh.org/

Logan County

Phone: 304-792-7130

24/7 Crisis Line: (304) 792-7130

Website: http://www.lmamh.org/

Northwood Health Systems

Brooke County

Phone: 304.217.3050

Website: https://www.northwoodhealth.com/

Marshall County

Phone: 304.845.3000

Website: https://www.northwoodhealth.com/

Ohio County

Phone: 304.234.7777

Website: https://www.northwoodhealth.com/

Wetzel County

Phone: 304.455.3622

Website: https://www.northwoodhealth.com/

Potomac Highlands Mental Health Guild, Inc

Grant County

Phone: (304) 257-1155

24/7 Crisis Phone: 1-800-545-4357

Website: https://potomachighlandsguild.com/index.html

Hampshire County

Phone: (304) 822-3897

24/7 Crisis Phone: 1-800-545-4357

Website: https://potomachighlandsguild.com/index.html

Hardy County

Phone: (304) 538-2302

24/7 Crisis Phone: 1-800-545-4357

Website: https://potomachighlandsguild.com/index.html

Mineral County

Phone: (304) 788-2241

24/7 Crisis Phone: 1-800-545-4357

Website: https://potomachighlandsguild.com/index.html

Pendleton County

Phone: (304) 358-2351

24/7 Crisis Phone: 1-800-545-4357

Website: https://potomachighlandsguild.com/index.html