Suicide Prevention Outreach
Veterans and other residents of metropolitan Washington, D.C., have begun seeing information on buses and inside subway cars about the Department of Veterans Affairs suicide prevention hotline. The displays are part of a new three–month outreach campaign that highlights VA’s suicide prevention hotline –– 1–800–273–TALK. If the campaign is successful in raising awareness, VA plans to extend the promotional campaign to other parts of the country. “It takes the courage and strength of a warrior to ask for help,” said VA Secretary James B. Peake. “That’s the message of this outreach.” (more)
Wheelchair Games
More than 500 veterans, including a number of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom veterans, are in Omaha, Neb., competing in the largest annual wheelchair sports competition in the world. From July 25 through 29, the athletes are testing themselves in 17 competitive events such as swimming, basketball, track, softball, bowling, table tennis, archery and power soccer. The National Veterans Wheelchair Games, co–presented by VA and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, are open to all U.S. military veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions, amputations or other mobility impairments. (more)
