The Veterans Affairs Department will award $52.5 million to community organizations implementing suicide prevention programs for veterans.
The awardees include 85 organizations in 41 states, and several U.S. territories, according to a Sept. 12 news release. Organizations focused on rural areas, U.S. territories, Tribal lands, medically underserved areas received priority for funding.
The agency also prioritized areas with a percentage of minority Veterans or women Veterans, and areas with a high volume of calls to the Veterans Crisis Line.
Earlier this year, the VA put $10 million toward improving data to better inform suicide prevention strategies.The agency also provides free emergency care at VA and non-VA facilities for Veterans in acute suicidal crisis. As of August, the program has provided care to more than 74,000 people.