.
The Orlando VA Medical Center will host a Suicide Prevention Awareness Fair on Friday, September 14, 2018. The activity will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona located at 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827.
.
Fair activities will feature manned tables with information and resources from the VA and community partners.
.
The event is open to the public.
.
In addition to participating in the planned fair activities, Veterans and their loved ones, friends, and others are encouraged to download, post and share the posters available at: www.visn8.va.gov/SaveALife.asp. A Suicide Prevention Awareness Walk will also be held at each site of care in front of the building at 7:30 a.m. all Orlando VA Medical Center facilities. Veterans, family, friends and the public are welcome to participate. A list of all sites of care is listed here: https://www.orlando.va.gov/locations/index.asp.
.
"Suicide prevention is one of our highest priorities," said Orlando VA Medical Center Suicide Prevention Coordinator Janet Gates . "We will not relent in our efforts to connect Veterans with lifesaving support before they reach a crisis point."
.
"I encourage everyone to get involved in the national suicide prevention movement...from attending our information fair and learning about the many resources available, to programing the Veterans Crisis Line, 1-800-273-8255, press 1, in your personal cell phone. The bottom line it that one Veteran suicide is to many, and we must do everything we can to help those in need of support," she said.
.
The fair is being held during "Florida Veterans Suicide Prevention Awareness Week," September 9 - 15, 2018, as designated by the state. The VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8) has partnered with the Florida Dept. of Veterans Affairs to raise awareness to suicide prevention and resources available to Veterans and their loved ones.
.
To learn more about the Orlando VA Medical Center and mental health services available to Veterans, please visit www.orlando.va.gov.
