Mar 5, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Trump executive order creates task force to prevent veteran suicide

Orion Rummler

In this image, a Vietnam veteran walks past a large green statue of three soldiers in a park. — A war veteran walks by the statue of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo: Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump will sign an executive order on Tuesday to create a Cabinet-level task force to prevent veteran suicide.

The big picture: The initiative follows a Government Accountability Office report released in December that found Veteran Affairs suicide prevention outreach “dropped off” after Trump took office, per USA Today. The "President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide," or PREVENTS Initiative, will be led by VA Secretary Robert Wilkie and aims to create a national plan to lower the number of veteran suicides.

Don't forget: If you are a veteran in crisis, or you’re concerned about one, support is available 24/7 via the VA Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1 after calling), via text message at 838255, or through online chat.

Go deeper: Veterans' private health care program led to longer waits

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Trump executive order creates task force to prevent veteran suicide

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