Trending...
- T. Jones Group's Cameron Jones Serves as Judge for the 2026 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence
- Kaltra Expands Microchannel Water Coil Line for U.S. HVAC Market With New Corrosion-Resistant Tube Technology
- Federal indictments bring new scrutiny to SPLC practices and highlight the real‑world impact of its designations on nonprofit groups, including NCFM
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
- ASCLD Honors Jeremy Triplett with 2026 Briggs J. White Award
- BarnOps Launches Equine Facility Management Software with GPS Staff Tracking and Weather Alerts
- Lansdowne Photographer Steven Weisz Selected for Philadelphia City Hall Exhibition
- Federal indictments bring new scrutiny to SPLC practices and highlight the real‑world impact of its designations on nonprofit groups, including NCFM
- Shedrack Anderson Releases New Album
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
- Could You Make a 2026 World Cup Squad? A New Free Tool Will Tell You Where You'd Sit on Any National Team's Bench in 90 Seconds
- Sugar Land's Social Scene Gets a Boost: Pep's Backyard Set to Open Near Constellation Field
- Joseph Nybyk (AKA Joseph Neibich) Guests On Octopus TV
- New from Regal House Publishing, Minerva, a girl raised in a politically divided country
- Mutant-Fueled Bio-Cyberpunk Shooter HoverGrease 2 Launches May 22
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
0 Comments
Latest on ncarol.com
- New Survey Reveals America's Most Feared Bridges for Cyclists — Golden Gate Tops the List
- Raymond Lavine, Extended Care Benefits Advisor and Author, to Appear on National Television Series Moving America Forward
- NaturismRE Launches Structured Nudism & Naturism Encyclopedia, Aiming to Reframe Public Understanding
- AI Is Closing the Gap Between Offshore Virtual Assistants and Onshore Staff
- CCHR Highlights Concerns Over Coercive and Failed $140 Billion Mental Health Practices at Psychiatric Convention
- Avery Headley Leads Major Stabilization and Modernization Initiative Across Bronx Affordable Housing Portfolio
- America's Boating Channel® Releases New Video Explaining Give-Way and Stand-On Vessel Navigation Rules
- NewReputation's AI Sentiment Analysis Tool Reaches 2,500 Users as Businesses Demand Clearer Brand Intelligence
- Sunday Best Winner Tasha Page-Lockhart Headlines A'Leurer's 1-Year Anniversary Celebration in Greensboro
- CAPO Supply Announces Opening of Second Location in New Castle, Pennsylvania
- $224 Billion Growing Market in Life Settlements Presents Major Opportunity for New Policy Acquisition Business Plan: DLT Resolution Stock Symbol: DLTI
- New from Regal House Publishing, Margery and Me, based on the true story of psychic Margery Crandon
- Fyt-02 Launches on Kickstarter The Smart Sensor That Turns Any Chair Into a Posture & Movement Track
- YieldOMega Launches $DOUB Airdrop Campaign Ahead of TimeCurve Launch
- Kaltra Expands Microchannel Water Coil Line for U.S. HVAC Market With New Corrosion-Resistant Tube Technology
- Collectibles EvoRelic Celebrates Stellar 4.8-Star Customer Rating
- Phoenix Hip-hop Artist Rhymi Hits 23k Monthly Listeners 12 Days After Album Release
- Pediatrician Launches "Confessions of a Detective Doctor" Children's Book Series
- Integrated Maintenance Platforms Are Transforming Aircraft Operations
- T. Jones Group's Cameron Jones Serves as Judge for the 2026 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence