Join the Veteran Women Business Owners United (VWBOU) and StopOne Suicide for the screening of The "S" Word. A documentary that seeks to amplify the voices of those living after suicide attempts and to raise awareness about suicide prevention and resources. The filmmakers hope to encourage people to think about suicide in a completely different way.
Committed to Sisterhood In Action, the VWBOU recognizes reports that suicide rates for female veterans has soared 85 percent in recent years. In the NPR Article Battling Depression And Suicide Among Female Veterans retired Army Col. Ellen Haring, director of research for the advocacy group Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) said ”Women's experiences in the military are different from men's, so their transition needs to be different, too, . .The experiences you have on active duty carry with you, and then they manifest as mental wellness challenges as veterans," she said. "When you're transitioning out of the service, or when you return from a combat deployment to come back to a stateside demobilization and try to return to family or community, that's a challenging period." Female veterans are reported to be almost 250 percent more likely than civilian women to kill themselves: 250% more likely to kill themselves!
SWAN has released a half dozen recommendations on the mental health needs of women service members and veterans. They were based on a poll that gauged the mental health needs of veterans and women on active duty. A key recommendation was to establish stronger social support groups and networks for military women.
Although this film is not specifically about veteran women, it is an opportunity for everyone in attendance to examine the rising occurrences of suicide in our nation from suicide survivors. Just as important, you will learn about and from StopOne Suicide how you can be prepared to be the different; if just for one person, between living and suicide!
This event is being hosted at the Veteran Women's Enterprise Center our partners in promoting Sisterhood In Action!
Refreshments will be available in the Cafe Lounge and the film will commence promptly at 11:30AM.