Plans underway to launch veteran suicide prevention initiative

Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) is excited to announce our agency has been awarded the VA’s Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant. With this $733,400 one-year federal grant, our agency plans to launch a new initiative for local veterans called the Tri-County Veteran Support Hub.

This is a comprehensive, community-based initiative. It is designed to reduce suicide risk, improve mental well-being, and strengthen social connectedness. It will address a critical deficit in mental health support for veterans and their families across Mesa, Delta, and Montrose counties.

“This grant is a vital opportunity to bridge gaps in our community. Our goal is to partner with organizations to ultimately break down barriers to care and keep our veterans safe," said Jennifer Daniels, MCPH Behavioral Health Division Director.

Veterans make up 10% of the adult population in Mesa County, but have accounted for 18% of all suicides over the last ten years. Of the estimated 12,000 veterans living in our community, approximately 4,000 of them are currently not connected to the services they may be eligible for. They also face challenges to accessing help such as transportation barriers, rural isolation, and a local shortage of mental health providers.

The new Tri-County Veteran Support Hub will connect veterans with peer mentors. These are fellow veterans who understand military life firsthand. Instead of exam rooms, support will take place in natural, relaxed environments where trust comes naturally.

"Many of our rural veterans are hesitant to seek help from traditional clinical institutions or view needing help as a sign of weakness," said Daniels. "With this grant, we are stripping away that institutional stigma. By meeting veterans where they are, we can build connections before a crisis."

We are excited to partner with two organizations from neighboring communities, Sovereign Roots: Veterans Retreat and Kadkhodaian Behavioral Health Center. Together we will launch this initiative and help hundreds of individuals.

"This is a true collaborative public health effort," Daniels said. "We want to ensure no veteran on the Western Slope feels isolated, forgotten, or disconnected from the community they served." 

About Sovereign Roots: Veterans Retreat

Sovereign Roots is a veteran-led nonprofit organization established in 2025. The organization operates on a 30-acre campus in Delta County. Sovereign Roots provides peer-driven, nature-based programming, gatherings, and retreats. Their programs are designed to reduce isolation, foster veteran connections, and support the overall wellness of veterans and their families.

About Kadkhodaian Behavioral Health Center

The Kadkhodaian Behavioral Health Center (KBH Center) provides advanced behavioral health, crisis intervention, and cognitive resilience programming for the Western Slope. With the founders having over two decades of clinical experience, the organization's specialized teams provide peer support, relationship guidance, and evidence-based behavioral and substance use programs. Their work focuses on high-risk groups, first responders, and military veterans.