SAINT PAUL, Minn.—On Monday, March 11, the Minnesota House of Representatives voted unanimously to designate the first Saturday of October as Veterans Suicide Awareness Day. 17 men and women who have served our country are lost to suicide every day.
“The reverberations from the trauma and the grief of each of these deaths touch many Minnesota families and communities,” said Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, chief author of the legislation. “This legislation is a public promise to continue working with veterans and their families to make sure we’re doing all we can to prevent these deaths from occurring in the first place.”
Family members of Justin Miller, a U.S. Marine from Minnesota who took his life a year ago, were present for the vote and recognized for their advocacy.
We owe a duty to veterans, service members, and their families. Increasing public awareness of this issue is the first step towards providing better support and mental health resources to the brave men and women who serve our country while they are on active duty and after their service ends.
