The fifth annual Stand Down event took place Wednesday with the goal of helping veterans and families prepare for times of crisis.
The event, held at the Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center in Temple, allowed veterans and family members have an opportunity to develop safety plans, apply gun locks to firearms, navigate apps to use in times of crisis and to use the Veteran Crisis Line chat option.
The Department of Veterans Affairs launched the Be There Campaign to raise awareness for suicide prevention.
The VA has partnered with organizations national and local, such as the Advanced Chiropractic, Hope Happens/Cedar Crest, Stop Texas Suicide Prevention – Texas Suicide Prevention Council Texas, Bring Everyone Into the Zone, Families in Crisis, Fort Hood Suicide Prevention, Killeen Heights Vets Center, Lone Star Legal, Military Vets Peer Network, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army, Temple, Angel Paws – Therapy Dogs, Temple College and Baylor Veterans Programs.
To call the Veteran Crisis Line, call 1-800-273-8255, press 1. To use the online chat, visit this website. To text, text 838255.
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