The meeting brought locals together to discuss suicide among veterans in rural communities like Taos and, furthermore, ways to confront the issue. Introductions and brief presentations built up to the focal point of the event: breakout groups, where veterans and some civilians discussed plans of action for reducing suicide rates among veterans, which were then presented to the rest of the room.
A total of 6,146 U.S. veterans took their own lives in 2020, the latest year for which data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was available, and analysis of that data shows that veterans in rural areas take their lives at a rate 6 percent higher than those living in urban areas. That fact led the VA in 2015 to form Together with Veterans, a rural veteran suicide prevention program, and the first chapter in New Mexico was formed last April here in Taos County, sponsored by local nonprofit Veterans Off Grid.
U.S. Army veteran Ryan Timmermans, of Veterans Off-Grid, purchased 50 acres of land in Carson west of Taos in 2016 and has made it his goal to use that land to help his brothers and sisters in arms. He graduated from the Earthship Academy - which teaches techniques for building off-grid, solar-powered homes from tires, bottles and other recyclable material - near Taos and began the process of bringing homes to vets who needed a bit of healing and help along their journey.
Having a view of greenery or access to a garden or park is linked to lower frequency and strength of cravings, study finds. If you've heard about "forest bathing," you know that scientific evidence backs up the healing power of spending time in nature. Now researchers have found that just being able to view nature can have a salubrious effect; this time, in decreased cravings for alcohol, cigarettes and harmful foods.
When you hear the word 'minimalism,' what comes to mind? I tend to picture the interior of a house, painted white and sparsely furnished. It's a beautiful space, if a bit empty and cold. There's a good chance that you have a similar mental image, too, as this is what most proponents of minimalism focus on – purging physical items from one's home space and, for some reason, always painting it white.
Suicide, a major public health concern that affects everyone, takes the lives of an estimated 45,000 Americans–including 6,000 Veterans–each year. To combat Veteran suicide, President Donald J. Trump recently signed an executive order (EO) titled “National Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End Suicide” (PREVENTS), directing the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council to co-chair and create an interagency task force to develop a plan implementing a road map for the prevention of Veteran suicide at the national and community level.
A horrific scene unfolded Tuesday in the waiting room of an Austin, Texas, Veterans Affairs clinic when a veteran reportedly shot himself to death in front of hundreds of witnesses. Despite the commotion, many in the building remained unaware of what had occurred for some time after the shooting, KWTX News 10 reported.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – With chilly temperatures this week, it might warm your thoughts to know that there are no more veterans out in the cold. It’s thanks to a successful 100-day challenge organized by the Mayor of Abilene. Abilene Mayor Anthony Williams and other agencies announced Thursday that veteran homelessness has been eliminated in the Key City, making it only one of nine cities in the U.S. to claim that honor and the only city in Texas.
Every Marine who takes his or her own life is more than a number, but the numbers tell a distressing story: the Marine Corps is losing the battle against suicide. A total of 75 Marines killed themselves in 2018: 57 active-duty Marines and 18 Marines in the Selected Reserves, according to data the Marine Corps provided to Task & Purpose. As CNN first reported, 2018 saw the highest number of active-duty Marine suicides since 2009.
WASHINGTON — Despite public pronouncements on their continued focus on preventing veterans suicide, Veterans Affairs officials failed to spend millions available for outreach campaigns in 2018 and severely curtailed their messaging efforts, according to a new report released Monday.
Living close to nature and spending time outside has significant and wide-ranging health benefits - according to new research from the University of East Anglia. A new report published today reveals that exposure to green space reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure. Populations with higher levels of green space exposure are also more likely to report good overall health – according to global data involving more than 290 million people.
Since 9/11 it’s not uncommon to see women in conflict areas around the world. Their numbers in the military have increased, and a new study shows their problems associated with war, too, have increased. A comprehensive study from the Department of Veterans Affairs shows the suicide rate among women vets has increased 85 percent over the last 25 years. “You had to be really tough, you know. You couldn't take anything less than excellence,” says Dawn Lafferty.
