VA Opens Applications for Suicide Prevention Grant
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has opened applications for a significant $112 million grant designed to aid community organizations focused on suicide prevention services for veterans.
According to a press release issued on Wednesday, this funding will be distributed through the Sergeant First Class Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Applications from interested parties are due by June 12, 2026.
This initiative marks an important step in expanding the VA’s strategy for community-based mental health support. The agency aims to reach veterans who may not be utilizing VA healthcare services, recognizing that many at risk of suicide might not be engaged with them.
By providing resources to local organizations, the VA hopes to “cast a wider net” and provide support to veterans right in their own neighborhoods.
“These grants invest directly in the communities that know our veterans best and are often the first to notice when someone is in trouble,” VA Secretary Doug Collins stated. He emphasized that these grants are crucial in connecting veterans, service members, and their families—particularly those who haven’t yet engaged with VA services—to the help they need to lower suicide risks and enhance overall well-being.
The available funding targets nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, federally recognized tribes, and other community groups with a proven track record of effectively serving veterans.
Since launching in 2022, the Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grants Program has distributed $210 million to 111 organizations across 46 states, U.S. territories, and tribal lands.
In the year 2025 alone, these grants supported over 17,000 veterans, service members, and their families, pointing to the critical nature of a community-focused approach. VA data indicates that the majority of veterans who die by suicide had not received care from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in the two years before their deaths.
The program’s success is evident, with more than 90% of participants reporting noticeable improvements in mental health, financial security, and social support. These factors are vital in reversing the concerning trend of over 6,000 veteran suicides annually since 2001.
