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LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY MARCH 23 - 29, 2023 • PAGE 2
Atlanta Veteran’s Affairs (Atlanta VA) Healthcare System, based in
Decatur, was recently selected as one of 10 winners for a program
developed for the Mission Daybreak challenge to prevent veteran
suicides. File photo
Atlanta VA’s new program
part of national initiative to
stop veteran suicides
BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE
CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
A program that started at the Atlanta Veteran's Affairs
(Atlanta VA) Healthcare System, based in Decatur, has been
selected as one of 10 winners of a national $20 million
initiative to develop ways to prevent veteran suicides.
After the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)
launched a challenge last year called Mission Daybreak,
more than 1,300 submissions from veterans, veteran service
organizations and other community-based organizations
throughout the country were received, stated officials.
"Mission Daybreak called on innovators to develop
suicide prevention solutions that meet the diverse needs of
veterans," states the Mission Daybreak website. "Mission
Daybreak is part of VA's 10-year strategy to end veteran
suicide through a comprehensive, public health approach.
Suicide has no single cause, and no single strategy can
end this complex problem. That's why Mission Daybreak is
fostering solutions across a broad spectrum of focus areas."
The Atlanta VA's submission, Even Health, is one of the
five third-place winners that will receive $500,000 through
the Mission Daybreak initiative.
Dana Ormond, mental health service deputy chief for
the Atlanta VA, said Even Health is a virtual reality-based
support group for veterans who have survived a suicide
attempt.
The Even Health support group will meet once a
week for eight weeks in a virtual group setting with two
moderators, The group will include an experienced clinical
professional and a veteran with lived suicide experience,
states the Even Health website.
Even Health officials also said the virtual technology
platform will allow for anonymity and users can turn
cameras off, change the sound of their voices and use an
alias among the group.
At the end of the eight-week sessions, participating
veterans are connected with resources and support based in
their local community, whether within the VA or through a
local veteran organization, states the website.
"Even Health adapts an established support group
model, (which is) shown to reduce suicide and associated
factors as well as increase resilience and a sense of
belonging for veterans," Ormond said.
According to a 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention
Annual Report, released by the VA in 2022, there were 6,000
or more veteran suicides per year between 2001-2020. In
2020, the suicide rate was reportedly 57 percent higher than
that of non-veteran adults, according to the report.
For more information, visit www.vetsurvivors.org and
www.va.gov/atlanta-health-care/.
HOMEOWNERS
IN DEKALB
7
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
APPLICATION
DEADLINE APRIL 1
Includes City of Atlanta homeowners in DeKalb.
Additional tax savings
available for eligible senior
citizens ages 62 and older,
disabled residents and
disabled veterans.
Age and income requirements must be met to
qualify for all senior exemptions.
(Code of DeKalb County, as Revised 1988, Append. B, Div. 1, Sec. 1503)
File online before
the deadline!
Irvin J. Johnson
Tax Commissioner
www.DeKalbTax.org
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