In fall 2021, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) invited the State of Connecticut to participate in the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (Governor’s Challenge). Since 2018, 35 states have stepped up to the challenge, and Connecticut was proud to join them in spring 2022.

CT formed a Governor’s Challenge interagency military, Veteran, and civilian team to develop and implement a strategic action plan to prevent suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and their families (SMVF). The foundation of the Governor’s Challenge program incorporates elements from the National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Technical Package for Preventing Suicide, and the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide. It additionally supports the goals and objectives of the CT Suicide Prevention State Plan 2025. Together, this alignment of efforts is a force multiplier in advancing the work of preventing suicide among SMVF.

The CT Governor’s Challenge Team (CT GC Team) is co-lead by the DMHAS-Prevention and Health Promotion/CT Suicide Advisory Board and the CTNG Prevention Division. Members in alphabetical order include: multiple CTNG (Army and Air Force) staff, CTNG Behavioral Health Team, DMHAS-Military Support Program, DMHAS/ABH-Military Support Program, DVA, Easterseals Veterans Rally Point, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Red Cross, State Police, United Way of CT, VACT Healthcare, and Wheeler Clinic. This is an open Team and new members are welcome.

The Governor’s Challenge requires state teams to focus on three pre-determined priority areas as follows:

  • Priority Area 1: Identify SMVFs and Screen for Suicide Risk: Engage Primary Care Providers and Community Based Healthcare Providers to screen for SMVF status (Ask The Question-ATQ), and to educate them on mental health resources available to SMVF populations;
  • Priority Area 2: Promote Connectedness and Improve Care Transitions: Promote and educate SMVFs with up-to-date resources; and
  • Priority Area 3: Increase Lethal Means Safety and Safety Planning: Educate SMVFs and caregivers on how to make and activate a safety plan.

Each priority area aligns with a CT Suicide Advisory Board (CTSAB) Committee connected with the goals and objectives of the CT Suicide Prevention State Plan 2025. Each CT GC Team will integrate with the aligned CTSAB committees to advocate for SMVFs, and maximize and activate resources. Some CT GC members are already members of these committees, and some will be new.

With support from the national Service Members, Veterans, and Families Technical Assistance Services Center (SMVF TA Center), the CT GC Team is performing a strategic process to assess needs; determine capacity, readiness, resources and key stakeholders; plan activities; implement them; and evaluate them taking into account the special needs of the SMVF population, including those from Tribal communities. The CT GC Teams recently prepared resource checklists with capacity and various considerations in mind, and stakeholder engagement planning tools taking into account the role(s) stakeholders may play, potential barriers/enablers to engagement, and what they will be asked to do to support SMVFs. Much of the activities are related to online and print communications directed at and training of various populations.