ORH Showcase of Excellence
Together With Veterans: Rural Suicide Prevention and Meeting Social Needs
The VHA Office of Rural Health (ORH) Rural Suicide Prevention Enterprise-Wide Initiative (EWI) utilizes VA’s National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide and comprehensive public health approach. The Rural Suicide Prevention EWI connects Veterans to comprehensive suicide prevention services and resources through enhanced education, public awareness campaigns, community training, crisis support, firearm safety and care management for high risk individuals.
The heart of the Rural Suicide Prevention EWI is Together With Veterans (TWV). TWV is a national, community-based suicide prevention program tailored to Veterans living in rural communities. TWV improves rural Veterans' access to resources, services, and health care by collaborating with rural community partners.
Rogue Cell “Battlegrounds and Backroads" Documentary
Brad Pietzyk and Sean Davis, Together With Veterans Northwest Oregon steering committee members, met at a Veterans' breakfast. They connected over their shared military experiences and mutual desire to create something meaningful to help other Veterans. Their conversation over coffee led Pietzyk and Davis to co-found Rogue Cell*, a community-based organization committed to connecting Veterans to reduce suicide. Rogue Cell reaches rural Veterans in Oregon and beyond through their podcast, radio program, blogs, and now through a documentary film.
Battlegrounds and Backroads is a deeply moving documentary produced by Rogue Cell, and a call to action. The documentary explores the often-overlooked struggles faced by rural veterans in Oregon and encourages meaningful dialogue and action to better support Veterans living in rural areas. Pietzyk and Davis traveled over 4,000 miles across rural Oregon to try to understand why Veterans in these regions die at a higher rate from suicide. The documentary is dedicated to telling the untold stories of rural veterans, those facing deeper isolation, reduced access to care, and the weight of firearms integrated into their way of life. In places where resources are scarce, social fragmentation leaves too many struggling alone.
View Battlegrounds and Backroads on the Rogue Cell website.*
*Link will take visitors outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites. The link will open in a new window for the content of the linked website.
Mississippi Delta Boots to Beyond
Boots to Beyond Inc.* was founded by three U.S. Veterans in the Mississippi Delta who recognized the significant needs facing Veterans in their county, including food insecurity, limited healthcare access, and gaps in knowledge about VA benefits.
Boots to Beyond’s vision is a future where no Veteran faces food insecurity, mental health challenges, or barriers to accessing the benefits they deserve. Through dedication and innovative programming, they work to cultivate a culture of compassion, resilience, and opportunity for Veterans across the Mississippi Delta.
Read more about the TWV-Boots to Beyond partnership and Veteran suicide prevention programs.*
*Link will take visitors outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites. The link will open in a new window for the content of the linked website.
Rural Health - Navigation
- Office of Rural Health Home page:
https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/index.asp - Enterprise-Wide Initiatives (EWI) page:
https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/Enterprise-Wide-Initiatives-EWI.asp - Veterans Rural Health Resource Centers (VRHRC) page:
https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/Veterans-Rural-Health-Resource-Centers-VRHRC.asp
*Link will take you outside of the Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA) Website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites. The link will open in a new window for the content of the linked websites.
