Amidst the fireworks and barbeques that typically surround the 4th of July, I found myself thinking about all the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom and independence.  While our national armed forces have provided us with the ability to commemorate this holiday, it is our veterans who deserve to be the focus of our national celebration!

Hillsborough County is home to over 95,000 veterans (www.va.gov).  Fortunately, most of our veterans have what they need to live healthy, happy and productive lives.  However, we have all heard statistics pertaining to veterans who are struggling.  Homelessness, addiction, suicidal ideation, and mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety and depression plague way too many of our veteran heroes.  Unfortunately, these problems are not limited to the veteran alone.  These issues also impact the spouses, children, extended families and friends of suffering veterans.  We are so lucky that the Tampa Bay area has many services, supports and initiatives to address veterans in need.  Nonetheless, this system of care can be difficult to navigate.  It is for this reason that in 2014, the Florida Legislature allocated resources which enabled the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay to create the Florida Veterans Support Line.

Starting as a pilot program, the Florida Veterans Support Line serves the five counties that make up the Tampa Bay Area:  Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee and Polk.  I have been so honored over this past year to witness the Florida Veterans Support Line in operation.  What I believe makes this initiative so unique is its staff.  You see, we learned early in this project that the strongest connection we can make over the phone, the internet or through IM chat is with one veteran to another.  Therefore, we have two veteran peers - one Marine and one Air Force - who staff this program.  Their shared experience creates a sense of trust, credibility and safety for our veteran callers.  Through the Florida Veterans Support Line, the Crisis Center is able to be the gateway for our veterans to the services they need.  

It is amazing that in such a short period of time, this resource has become a life line for so many veterans and their families,  For example since October, 2015, the Florida Veterans Support Line staff have answered nearly 3,000 calls from veterans and their families searching for help.  What is even more sobering is that of those 3,000 calls, over 2,200 of them were calls from veterans contemplating suicide.  In recognition that this program saves lives, the Department of Children and Families along with Central Florida Behavioral Health Network are funding this pilot program for one final year.  

As you can see, the Florida Veterans Support Line is too valuable an asset to lose, and it is my plan that through collaborations with other like-minded partners, the Crisis Center will secure permanent funding for the line by launching this successful program statewide utilizing our sister 2-1-1 agencies.  I will keep you updated throughout the year on our multi-pronged implementation plan!  In the meantime, if you are a veteran, a family member or friend of a veteran in need, please call the Florida Veterans Support Line at 1-844-MYFLVET.  As always, the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is here 24 hours a day to support our veterans as well as any member of the community experiencing a crisis or trauma.  Our mission is to ensure that no one in our community has to face a crisis alone and we are proud to be the community's gateway to help, hope and healing.

All my best!

Clara