COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – There now are more resources available to veterans in El Paso County after health officials saw an alarming number of suicides in recent years.
11 News spoke with UCHealth, who just launched their new veteran suicide-prevention program Next Chapter. It will serve up to 700 veterans and their family members per year, by providing resources like therapy and counseling, to finding employment and access to housing support, at no cost.
“Currently, veterans, or those who are current or former military service, make up about 30% of the suicides in our county. Nationally, that number is typically around 16% of suicides,” said Damian McCabe, UCHealth director of behavioral health-military affairs.