Trending...
- North Carolina Author Carrie Sybert Celebrates Three Published Books - 155
- Unlocking the Next Phase of Growth with New AI Innovations; Targeting 2027 as Breakeven; Revenue Momentum Accelerates: ZenaTech (N A S D A Q: ZENA)
- AeroNet Deploys netElastic vBNG and CGNAT with Tarana Wireless to Deliver Scalable, Fiber-Class Broadband Across Puerto Rico
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Although COVID seems to be the current war the world is fighting, a bigger enemy is on America's home front for service members and Veterans: suicide. From July to September of 2021, 163 service members died by suicide, nearly doubling the number of those who died by COVID since the inception of the pandemic.
"Isolation, inactivity, and traumatic events are some of the many risk factors for post-9/11 Veterans and service members," said Sarah Verardo, Chief Executive Officer of The Independence Fund. "Making mental health resources readily available needs to be a top priority."
When a service member returns from war, for many, the fight has only just begun. Mental health among Veterans and the military community continues to have a negative stigma. 20 Veterans a day die by suicide, totaling over 6,000 per year. Each death by suicide impacts over 130 other people, meaning nearly 800,000 people are impacted each year from Veteran Suicide.
The problem is especially acute for combat Veterans. While the overall Veteran suicide rate is 1.5 to 2.5 times greater than the non-Veteran suicide rate, for combat Veterans, especially younger combat Veterans, it is very severe – for 18–24-year-old combat deployed Veterans, the suicide rate is 3 to 4 times higher than the overall Veteran suicide rate, and 7 to 8 times higher than the non-Veteran overall suicide rates.
More on ncarol.com
The Independence Fund is working to change that through their Operation RESILIENCY (OpRES) program. "We have seen that through connectivity and reuniting our Veterans who have shared traumatic experiences together, they gain the peer-to-peer support, confidence, resources, and resiliency skills to reach out to get help when they need it," said Sam Johnson, Executive Vice President of The Independence Fund. "We do this by placing Veterans in a safe place to communicate their struggles, triggers, and transition."
Operation RESILIENCY reunites tactical combat military units who survived traumatic experiences together during their deployment and have been affected by Veteran suicide once home. Relying on the trust and brotherhood forged in combat, military units gather in formation to address their next, and most important mission on the home front: preventing Veteran suicide.
"Engagement is the key. In partnership with the VA, OpRES targets specific military units with the highest suicide risks. Our mission is to provide psycho-educational training retreats for at-risk Veterans and their families and then progressively transition them into other programs, such as adaptive sports, or VA or Department of Defense mental health treatment, for them to regain their independence and a new lease on life," said Verardo.
More on ncarol.com
Since 2019, The Independence Fund has been proud to include active-duty service members and the unit's Iraqi and Afghan interpreter(s) in the reunions, as they served alongside U.S. service members in combat and now fight alongside our Veterans on the home front. OpRES attendees participate in a four-day retreat and leave with tools and resources to use when the load gets too heavy. The peer support model focuses on admitting that, "it's OK to not be OK."
"The issue is connection," said Johnson. "The Veterans Crisis Line, Coaching into Care, Make the Connection.net, and SAVE suicide prevention training are great resources. Operation RESILIENCY will take those resources directly to at-risk Veterans with laser-guided precision through retreats, training, and awareness under the umbrella of comradery with their fellow service members to ensure no connection is lost."
Units can be nominated for the OpRES program on The Independence Fund's website. Veterans who are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, and those who know a Veteran in crisis, can call the Veterans Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 for confidential crisis intervention and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Contact:
Ashley Skinner
[email protected]
SOURCE The Independence Fund
"Isolation, inactivity, and traumatic events are some of the many risk factors for post-9/11 Veterans and service members," said Sarah Verardo, Chief Executive Officer of The Independence Fund. "Making mental health resources readily available needs to be a top priority."
When a service member returns from war, for many, the fight has only just begun. Mental health among Veterans and the military community continues to have a negative stigma. 20 Veterans a day die by suicide, totaling over 6,000 per year. Each death by suicide impacts over 130 other people, meaning nearly 800,000 people are impacted each year from Veteran Suicide.
The problem is especially acute for combat Veterans. While the overall Veteran suicide rate is 1.5 to 2.5 times greater than the non-Veteran suicide rate, for combat Veterans, especially younger combat Veterans, it is very severe – for 18–24-year-old combat deployed Veterans, the suicide rate is 3 to 4 times higher than the overall Veteran suicide rate, and 7 to 8 times higher than the non-Veteran overall suicide rates.
More on ncarol.com
- Building a Technology Powerhouse-From AI Drones and Global Acquisitions to Defense, Enterprise Software and the Future of Autonomous Operations $ZENA
- Shelter Structures America backs MATRA Second Life Project to turn retired tent vinyl into homes for displaced families
- P-Wave Press Announces Becoming Dad: Reflections for New Fathers by L. A. Davenport
- Logicraft Launches FuelDeck™, AI That Turns Aviation Fuel Tickets Into One Traceable Ledger
- Inaugural OC Tech Week Draws 3,000 From 12 Countries, Sends Finalist to $1M Startup World Cup
The Independence Fund is working to change that through their Operation RESILIENCY (OpRES) program. "We have seen that through connectivity and reuniting our Veterans who have shared traumatic experiences together, they gain the peer-to-peer support, confidence, resources, and resiliency skills to reach out to get help when they need it," said Sam Johnson, Executive Vice President of The Independence Fund. "We do this by placing Veterans in a safe place to communicate their struggles, triggers, and transition."
Operation RESILIENCY reunites tactical combat military units who survived traumatic experiences together during their deployment and have been affected by Veteran suicide once home. Relying on the trust and brotherhood forged in combat, military units gather in formation to address their next, and most important mission on the home front: preventing Veteran suicide.
"Engagement is the key. In partnership with the VA, OpRES targets specific military units with the highest suicide risks. Our mission is to provide psycho-educational training retreats for at-risk Veterans and their families and then progressively transition them into other programs, such as adaptive sports, or VA or Department of Defense mental health treatment, for them to regain their independence and a new lease on life," said Verardo.
More on ncarol.com
- Award-Winning American Hotelier Opens Art-Filled Luxury Cottage in Norfolk, England
- Young Author Taraji Jones Surpasses 100 Amazon Book Sales
- K2 Global / Ozi Amanat Named Among Top 100 AI Venture Capitalists in 2026
- Dr. Latorial Faison Appointed Poet Laureate of Virginia
- Nautical Advisory Shares Buyer Perspective in Forbes Agency Council Webinar for Agency Founders
Since 2019, The Independence Fund has been proud to include active-duty service members and the unit's Iraqi and Afghan interpreter(s) in the reunions, as they served alongside U.S. service members in combat and now fight alongside our Veterans on the home front. OpRES attendees participate in a four-day retreat and leave with tools and resources to use when the load gets too heavy. The peer support model focuses on admitting that, "it's OK to not be OK."
"The issue is connection," said Johnson. "The Veterans Crisis Line, Coaching into Care, Make the Connection.net, and SAVE suicide prevention training are great resources. Operation RESILIENCY will take those resources directly to at-risk Veterans with laser-guided precision through retreats, training, and awareness under the umbrella of comradery with their fellow service members to ensure no connection is lost."
Units can be nominated for the OpRES program on The Independence Fund's website. Veterans who are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, and those who know a Veteran in crisis, can call the Veterans Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 for confidential crisis intervention and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Contact:
Ashley Skinner
[email protected]
SOURCE The Independence Fund
Filed Under: Business
0 Comments
Latest on ncarol.com
- Steve Weclew is Appointed by STS Capital Partners as Managing Director
- New Finnish Affiliate Site Ilmaiskierrokset.com Puts Wager-Free Spins in the Spotlight
- Major FDA Victory; Preservative-Free Ketamine Approved Ahead of November 10 Goal Date as Commercial Launch Opportunity Comes Into Focus for NRx Pharma
- Immerse Yourself in the Historic Tochigi Autumn Festival, Celebrated Every Two Years Since 1874
- Asheville Artist KayeDinero Turns the Blue Ridge Into a Horror Movie With "Halloween"
- Resident Inspect Expands Virtual Property Inspections With AppFolio and Rentvine Integrations
- Unlocking the Next Phase of Growth with New AI Innovations; Targeting 2027 as Breakeven; Revenue Momentum Accelerates: ZenaTech (N A S D A Q: ZENA)
- AeroNet Deploys netElastic vBNG and CGNAT with Tarana Wireless to Deliver Scalable, Fiber-Class Broadband Across Puerto Rico
- New Atlas Maps the 38 States Behind Every Conversation
- Atlanta Company Launches Free, Ad-Free, Nonpartisan Voter Planning App for All 50 States Ahead of the Nov. 3 Election
- NECP Promotes Chertova to Senior Business Analyst
- Security Industry Veteran Anthony Rumore Launches AegisLead to Help Security Companies Find Business and Manage Growth
- Charlie Shaw and Patrick Carragher win SEO Agency of the Year 2026
- Canadian Woman Plants 1,667 Love Stories in a Field of Peonies That Could Bloom for 100 Years
- Peruvian Gold Wellness Shares Free 2026 Holiday Shopping Guide
- New Research Spotlight, Expanding TUSC2 Science & Strategic Development Milestones Put Gene Therapy Innovation into Focus for Genprex (NAS DAQ: GNPX)
- Hall of Fame Speaker Kelly Swanson Competes for National Top Host Title
- Hall of Fame Speaker Kelly Swanson Launches New Book and Brings Comedy Show to Louisburg, NC
- North Carolina Author Carrie Sybert Celebrates Three Published Books
- Access Control Security Shares 5 Ways Retailers Can Prevent Holiday Theft