RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – South Dakota is one of the best states in the country when it comes to veteran services, according to Veteran Affairs, but almost 1 in 4 veterans still suffer from mental health concerns. As part of that success, the Black Hills are full of resources for veteran mental health.
Veteran’s Affairs in the Black Hills serves over 16,000 veterans a year and is one of many options veterans have when it comes to mental health care. The VA knows how important it is to reach as many veterans as they can.
“Internally we’re working on identifying those warning signs for suicide. We want to intervene early. So, we do an annual screening for all of the veterans that we see and that helps us identify risk early and put things in place so we can prevent a crisis from happening in the first place,” says Danielle Rodgers, the suicide prevention manager for the VA.
A new legislation implemented last year, called the Compact Act, allows for the VA to assist veterans in need of help, free of charge, even if they aren’t registered to the VA system.
“The majority I would say, about two-thirds of veterans that die by suicide don’t even engage with the VA. So, benefits like Compact Act provide an incentive for those veterans to present to any emergency department if they are experiencing a crisis and get that cost-free care,” Rodgers continues.
The Outreach program through the VA focuses on reaching veterans across tribal lands, into the Nebraska panhandle, and here in Rapid City, making sure they are aware of the resources available to them. Other programs focus on helping veterans get back into civilian life through housing support.
“Our HUDVASH program is an excellent program for helping veterans who are experiencing situations of homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless. So, basically, that program, we pair with Housing and Urban Development and we’re the VASH part of the program, the VA-supported housing. So, we provide mental health case management and then we help them find their housing and maintain their housing,” says Danielle Grover, the Western SD HUD VASH Coordinator.
Besides the VA, other veteran outreach programs can help.
“There are also programs like Mission 22, who do a great job serving veterans. The Sergeant Colton Derr Foundation, I think they do a great job. We’ve had services in Hot Springs for a very long time, and now we have a VA center here in Rapid City,” says Rapid City mayor, Jason Salamun.
As mayor, and a veteran himself, Salamun strives to make Rapid City and the Black Hills the best place it can be for veterans.
“So, to get them in a community, get them with friends and family. I think those are important aspects, but of course, you want to have services as well. We know there are services that help people all the way around, I think that’s important. I am personally supportive of several organizations. My thought is to not necessarily reinvent the wheel, but I would like to make sure that we’re spotlighting and highlighting organizations that are effective in this space,” Salamun finishes.
You can reach out for help using the national suicide hotline at 988.
For more information on veteran mental health services, click here.
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