This year’s City of Jacksonville Veterans Summit will focus on the growing problem of veterans’ suicides.
According to a recent U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs study, an American veteran commits suicide once every 65 minutes in this country - about 22 per day.
Here on the First Coast, about 25% of the population is either active or retired military, so this is a serious public health and policy issue.
This week’s summit will not only focus on suicide prevention but also on how the community can better assist veterans coping with unemployment, emotional disorders and the challenges of returning to the battlefield to civilian life.
"Many veterans are reluctant to seek help," says Ken Johnson, City of Jacksonville Senior Policy Advisor on Military Affairs. "We need to let them know help is available."
The summit is set for this Thursday, April 11th, from 10am to 2pm on the UNF campus.
