In Case You Missed It – Governor Sisolak Announces Participation in National Strategy to Prevent Veteran Suicide

In Case You Missed It

The holidays are a busy time and it might be easy to miss a news story or two! Last month Governor Sisolak announced the State of Nevada had been invited to participate in the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Veteran Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans and Their Families! It is a tremendous honor to be invited as this initiative builds on two years of hard work by local, State, federal, nonprofits and others who participated in the Las Vegas and Truckee Meadows Mayor’s Challenges to Prevent Suicide. NDVS is proud to be a leading partner and play a role in this significant endeavor to better understand suicide and find answers on how to prevent it. Just in case you missed the announcement last month, you may view the following press release.  

Governor Sisolak Announces Participation in National Strategy to Prevent Veteran Suicide

Carson City, NV December 10, 2019

Today, Governor Steve Sisolak announced that the State of Nevada is among a select group of states to be invited to participate in the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Veteran Suicide.

The Governor’s Challenge is the next step following two years of hard work and involvement of teams in Las Vegas and Northern Nevada in the Mayor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide. Both the Mayor’s and Governor’s challenges are part of a holistic approach by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration to address and reduce suicide among service members, veterans, and their families.

“It is truly an honor for Nevada to be selected as one of a handful of states to participate in the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide,” Governor Sisolak said. “There’s lots of hard work still ahead, but this marks a significant step towards making a positive impact in the lives of thousands of Nevadans who have given so much to their country. One suicide is too many.”

The initial launch of the Mayor’s Challenge began in February of 2018 and involved eight cities, including Las Vegas. The selection was based on several factors, including suicide data, available resources, as well as the talent and leadership necessary to create a successful program that could be duplicated in other cities and states. Leaders from nonprofits, health care providers, local, State, and federal government, and the military got together to find solutions to address suicide. In 2019, Nevada was selected to expand the Mayor’s Challenge from Las Vegas to include Northern Nevada, creating the Truckee Meadows Mayor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide.

The Governor’s Challenge, which the Nevada Department of Veterans Services helped secure, takes the initial work from the Las Vegas and Truckee Meadows Mayor’s Challenges and expands on the successes to strengthen established networks to a broader region. The initiative seeks to better understand the issue and then identify and pull together all military and civilian programs, nonprofits, services, and resources in Nevada to provide an across-the-board, comprehensive approach to address suicide.