SEPTEMBER ACTIVITIES

September 6, 2023 (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.): VA Puget Sound Suicide Prevention Awareness Walk will be held at its American Lake Campus will have a 11:30 a.m. kick-off event with VA Puget Sound Deputy Director Susan Perez and VA Executive Director for Logistics Redesign at the Office of the Assistant Under Secretary for Health David Sloniker.

September 7 (1 to 3 p.m.): VA Puget Sound will host a Suicide Prevention Think Tank at its Seattle Campus, bringing together local, state and federal leaders to discuss collective opportunities to address Veteran suicide and the stressors that contribute to mental health crisis. Participated include VA Northwest Region, VA Puget Sound, Veterans Benefits Administration, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, Seahawks, University of Washington, Joint Based Lewis-McChord, National Association of Black Veterans, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Vet Center, Washington Cohen Veterans Network leadership along with three members of Congress—Rep. Rick Larsen (WA02), Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA01) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA07)—and State Representatives Tina Orwall and Mari Leavitt.

September 19 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.): VA Puget Sound Suicide Prevention and Whole Health Wellness Fair. Open to the public, this is an opportunity to celebrate wellness and whole health. Attendees can join in a collaborative art project while learning about community and VA resources that enhance physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health and wellbeing. Thirty programs and agencies will be onsite highlighting how they serve Veterans. The fair takes place at its Seattle Campus’s outside plaza area in front of the main entrance.   

September 20 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.): VA Puget Sound’s second Suicide Prevention and Whole Health Wellness Fair Wellness Fair will be held at its American Lake Campus. The fair will take place outside Building 9. It is an opportunity for the community to learn about the VA and community resources available to Veterans that can help build connections and reduce stressors. Programs such as the Wounded Warrior Project, Ted Brown Music Therapy Program, Hope for Heroes Horsemanship Center, and the Cohen Clinic for Military Families will be on site. 

September 27 (10 to 11 a.m. event, 11 to 4 p.m. open house): VA Puget Sound will hold its Veteran Gallery Opening at its Seattle Campus (Building 101). The Veterans Art Gallery recognizes the creative achievements and self-expression of Veteran artists entrusted to VA Puget Sound for care. Creating art helps Veterans heal.  And sharing that art helps support a sense of community, value, and belonging.  Twenty-two pieces of artwork are on display to raise awareness of lives taken each day by Veteran suicide. 

September 29 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.): VA Puget Sound hosts its 11th Annual Behavioural Health Summit. This year’s theme is Creating Safety by Forging Relationships. Geared to public and private providers and community partners, the summit includes learning and discussions focused on lethal means safety, counseling, peer support programs, and diversity, equity, and Inclusion.