VA to award millions in suicide prevention grants to community groups

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VA to award millions in suicide prevention grants to community groups
By Leo Shane III
Apr 20, 01:49 PM
Posters raising awareness about suicide are seen in an office at Fort Riley, Kansas, on Aug. 12, 2009. (Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

Veterans Affairs officials plan to award nearly $52 million in grants for suicide prevention programs in coming months to community groups in an effort to provide more targeted help for individuals in distress and better outreach to veterans outside the VA health care system.

The program has been in the works for the last 18 months, since Congress authorized the move as part of comprehensive mental health legislation. Individual groups can receive up to $750,000 through the effort, and can have that money renewed for two additional years if they show progress in preventing suicide.

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