ANNVILLE, PA — Pennsylvania is expanding suicide prevention resources for service members, veterans, and their families through a new statewide initiative backed by nearly $144,000 in grant funding.
What This Means for You
- More Prevention Resources: Veterans will have access to expanded safety planning and support programs.
- Free Safety Equipment: Firearm locks and secure storage devices will be distributed to reduce risk.
- Community-Based Outreach: Regional events will provide education and direct support across Pennsylvania.
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will use $143,947 in funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to expand suicide prevention efforts, including public education and safety initiatives.
The program focuses on “lethal means safety,” a strategy that aims to reduce access to methods commonly used in suicide—such as unsecured firearms—during moments of crisis, while also promoting planning and support systems to prevent self-harm.
How the Program Will Work
State officials said the funding will support regional events across Pennsylvania designed to connect veterans and families with resources and training.
These events will include safety planning, which helps individuals identify warning signs and coping strategies, as well as “reasons for living” workshops that encourage participants to build personal support frameworks.
The initiative will also distribute firearm cable locks and other secure storage devices, including handgun cases and digital pistol vaults, to help reduce access to lethal means during high-risk periods.
“We are deeply grateful to the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency for approving DMVA for this extremely competitive grant,” said Maj. Gen. John Pippy, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “This funding allows us not only to continue, but to expand our critical work to reduce veteran suicide and strengthen support for service members, veterans and their families across the commonwealth.”
Statewide Collaboration and Funding Source
The initiative is funded through the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program, a federal grant program established under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022.
In Pennsylvania, the program is administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which distributes funding to support crisis intervention and violence prevention strategies.
“Preventing suicide among our veteran population is a shared responsibility, and this funding underscores the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s commitment to statewide collaboration to make our communities safer,” said PCCD Executive Director Kirsten Kenyon.
Next Steps
Officials said the initiative will build on existing federal and state suicide prevention efforts while expanding access to resources and education statewide.
Regional events and distribution efforts are expected to roll out in the coming months as agencies coordinate outreach across Pennsylvania.
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