On March 12 Dexter United Methodist Church was the site of an event called “Cultivating Hope,” a suicide prevention information meeting that shared helpful ways for families and friends to interact with someone who may be contemplating suicide.
Hosted by the Veterans and Soldiers Group at DUMC, the Cultivating Hope Project is focused on Faith Based Communities who wish to help the VA Ann Arbor Health Care System (formerly known as the VA Hospital) in its attempt to address the increasing number of suicides among Veterans as well as across all other groups and ages throughout our U.S. population.
A video produced by the VA was shown, with leaders Mary Pat Tucker, VA suicide prevention coordinator, and VA Chaplain Marcus Bell leading the discussion and answering questions following the presentation. Numerous resources were made available for those who attended.
These resources would apply to anyone who is suffering from depression and possibly considering suicide.
For further questions, please contact Mary Pat Tucker at (567) 225-3721 or mary.tucker2@va.gov or the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, and press 1. Someone is available at this number at all times: 24/7, 365 days.