By Lucas Connell
Lunch at the event hosted by Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition (Lucas Connell)
The Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition held a panel discussion on March 5th at 4Cs to address veteran suicide prevention.
The coalition, co-chaired by Dr. Maura Weir, 4Cs chief wellness officer, and Sue Allaire, student wellness coordinator, works to raise awareness, promote education, and increase action to reduce suicides on Cape Cod and the Islands. Through community engagement, training programs, and advocacy, the coalition provides individuals and organizations with the tools needed to prevent suicide.
Speakers included Barbara-Anne Foley, the outreach and programs manager for the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center, and representatives from Falmouth Veterans’ Services, the Massachusetts National Guard Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce, the Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Coalition, the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention, the Samaritans of Cape Cod and the Islands, and the Trevor Project/LGBTQ+ Community Center of Cape Cod.
The event focused on raising awareness about veteran services, informing the community about available programs and addressing veteran suicide prevention. Speakers provided information on available resources, detailed their organizations’ services, and discussed ongoing efforts to reduce barriers to care. They emphasized the importance of community support and collaboration in preventing veteran suicide, with discussions focusing on ways to improve outreach, expand programs, and enhance access to critical services. Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition played a central role in the discussion due to its extensive direct services, addressing key challenges veterans face on Cape Cod.
Foley outlined the coalition’s four key areas of support: food security, housing assistance, mental health services, and transportation. The organization operates food pantries, transitional housing with case management, free counseling for veterans and their families, and transportation services for access to these resources, all aimed at reducing isolation and ensuring veterans receive the help they need. In addition to these services, the coalition organizes community events like the Veterans Rendezvous Café, which provides a space for veterans to connect, and the Veterans’ Rock concert, an annual event to raise awareness and support for veteran programs. Last year, the concert raised $16,000.
The coalition offers several suicide-prevention training programs to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to support those at risk:
• QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer): Helps individuals recognize warning signs of suicide, intervene effectively, and refer individuals to appropriate resources.
• Safe TALK: Trains participants to identify persons with suicidal thoughts and connects them with intervention resources.
• ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training): A two-day training that provides practical intervention skills and safety planning techniques for individuals in crisis.
• Mental Health First Aid: Teaches individuals how to identify, understand, and respond to mental health and substance use crises.
For immediate assistance, the following crisis resources are available:
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat.
• Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, press 1, or text 838255.
• The Trevor Project (LGBTQ youth support): Call 866-488-7386, text 678-678, or visit thetrevorproject.org/get-help.
• MA Behavioral Health Help Line: Call or text 833-773-2445.
• Samaritans Statewide Helpline (24/7 support): Call or text 877-870-4673.
• For Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Contact Mass Relay at 711
Recognizing the warning signs of suicide can help save lives. Some key signs to look for include:
• Expressing feelings of hopelessness or having no reason to live.
• Talking about wanting to die or making suicide threats.
• Withdrawing from family, friends, or social activities.
• Increased use of alcohol or drugs.
• Sudden mood changes, including extreme sadness, anger, or calmness after distress.
• Engaging in reckless or self-destructive behavior.
Suicide prevention is a collective effort, and community involvement plays a vital role in supporting veterans and those at risk. Students and community members can act by attending the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition’s quarterly general membership meetings or participating in suicide-prevention training. For more information, email capeandislandspc@gmail.com.
For more information on available veteran services, visit the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition at CISPC.net.
