Wounded Warrior Project and LivingWorks Share Suicide Prevention Strategies at Mental Health Conference

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Apr 03, 2025, 13:24 ET

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and LivingWorks joined forces at the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) conference this week to share strategies for reducing veteran suicide. The session, "Building Suicide-Safe Communities," emphasized the importance of a proactive, community-focused approach to reducing suicide risk for post-9/11 military families.

At the American Association of Suicidology's Annual Conference, Wounded Warrior Project teammates Lindsey Gray and Eileen Chapman presented about building communities that are safer from suicide alongside Alan Mednick with LivingWorks Education.

At the American Association of Suicidology Annual Conference Wounded Warrior Project spotlighted the challenges women service members and veterans face. Army veteran Angie Peacock talks to the audience with her service dog, Raider, keeping a watchful eye. Army veteran Tina Waggener shared her story as well during the session, with WWP teammates Lindsey Gray and Kirsten Walsh adding how the organization helps veterans.

The presentation focused on the importance of collaboration between mental health professionals and community stakeholders to create environments where suicide prevention is a shared responsibility. LivingWorks, a global leader in evidence-based suicide intervention training, has decades of expertise in equipping individuals and organizations with tools to recognize and address suicide risk early.

This session also included a look into WWP's Suicide Protocol. This framework is designed to identify veterans at low to moderate risk for suicide, offering support before they reach a crisis point.

"When we involve communities and educate them about suicide risk, we can create safer environments for more than just the warriors we serve," says Lindsey Gray, suicide prevention manager at Wounded Warrior Project. "Protecting against suicide is something everyone can learn to do."

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs' latest national suicide report, veterans die by suicide at a rate approximately 72% higher than non-veteran adults in the U.S., even after adjusting for age and sex. WWP's latest Warrior Survey reveals nearly 1 in 3 warriors have experienced suicidal thoughts within the past year.

Understanding Suicide Risk Among Female Veterans

WWP also hosted a panel discussion featuring perspectives from veterans who have dealt with suicidal ideation and mental health advocates, offering actionable strategies to address stigma and create more accessible, gender-sensitive support systems.

Nearly 30% of post-9/11 women warriors surveyed by WWP report experiencing suicidal ideation, often linked to compounding factors such as military sexual trauma or limited access to gender-sensitive mental health care.

The American Association of Suicidology Conference is taking place March 30 to April 4, in Columbus, OH.

If you, or someone you know, needs support, you can call, text, or chat with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting "TALK" to 741741. For a list of resources and helpful information, please visit woundedwarriorproject.org/preventsuicide.

About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project