TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION 
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and engage in reducing the number of suicides. Harris stated that statistics indicate Veterans have higher suicide rates than civilians, which is a national concern.
“Here in Texas, we know that over 580 Veterans die annually by suicide, and that is something that is preventable. We really want to engage folks and work with other state agencies and community partners to provide training and technical assistance and get Veterans and their families connected directly to resources,” Harris said. “So with the Texas Veterans Commission, we’re not the federal VA that people are used to going to for services. We work very closely with them, but we also work with Community Partners, other state agencies, and everyone, particularly in rural areas or areas where there may not be a lot of mental health services. We really engage those communities of faith, Veteran-serving organizations, and any opportunity to connect Veterans to the services and connect them to other Veterans as well.”
You see the interview of the Director of the Veterans Mental Health Department here.