A $700,000 annual, five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is meant to prevent and reduce veteran suicide.

The University of Pittsburgh Program Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU), in partnership with the state Department of Human Services and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, will implement and evaluate a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention, focusing especially on service members, veterans and their families.

“We know that veterans carry a greater risk for suicide than the general population, and that's why the work we are doing is so critical,” said DHS Secretary Teresa Miller. “The work that this cooperative agreement funds will help save lives across Pennsylvania.”

According to a news release from the health department, the primary goal of the new Northwest Pennsylvania Veteran Suicide Prevention Program is to reduce the average rate of suicide in 15 counties, including Butler.

The program will consist of an assessment of active county, state and national suicide prevention initiatives to identify gaps in services and programming.

PERU will then develop and implement additional risk assessment programs, community-based trainings and health care-related initiatives across the 15 counties.

Data collected will serve to develop future policy in veteran suicide.

“PERU is honored to work with the commonwealth on this important initiative, which will provide Pennsylvania's northwestern counties with the opportunity to implement data-driven strategies to prevent veteran suicides in their communities,” said Janice Pringle, PERU's executive director and the project's principal investigator. “It is our hope that this program will become a model for other parts of the state and country.”

Veterans struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts can call the Veterans Crisis Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-273-8255.

Civilians or veterans can call for 24-hour crisis services at 1-800-292-3866.