Cohen Clinic Initiates Suicide Prevention Campaign for Veterans

The clinic aims to provide resources and support for veterans and encourage their families and friends to engage in open dialogue about suicidal thoughts. The program, titled “Ask Anyway: Conversations to Save a Life,” is designed to educate the public on initiating these critical conversations, addressing the stigmas that often surround them.

Holly Scanes, the director of the Cohen Clinic’s Mililani location, emphasized the campaign's goal of facilitating discussions about suicide, particularly in relation to firearms. Statistics reveal that 73% of veteran suicides involve a firearm, prompting the clinic to prioritize strategies that reduce access during times of emotional distress. Scanes stated, "It's all about increasing distance from the moment of that emotional distress, from that crisis moment, to that access to the actual firearm itself."

The Cohen Clinic collaborates with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and local mental health services to fill gaps in care, addressing issues such as insurance, funding, and transportation that might hinder individuals from seeking help. Scanes reiterated their commitment to serving veterans, saying, "It's about serving those who have served our country, our community."

More information about the Steven A. Cohen Family Clinic and the “Ask Anyway” campaign is available on their website. For individuals in crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line can be reached 24/7 at 988, then press 1, or by texting 838255.