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VETERAN SUICIDE: A CRISIS WE CAN RESOLVE USING THE ARTS


Veteran suicides are on the rise in America and, during the holidays, statistics show it increases even more. Last month, the Department Of Defense (DOD) reported that America’s youngest veterans, ages 19 to 34, suicide rate is experiencing an unrelenting rise. Many veterans have been treated with drugs that dull their sensibilities and emotions and limit their ability to feel with little to no effect on the problem of preventing suicide. Some veterans become addicted to and/or dependent on drugs looking for a way to simply make it through to the next day. There are many veterans who will not go to the VA seeking treatments for symptoms of PTSD, stress, and depression and their families are severely affected in a profound way. We have to find a better way to stop veteran suicides in America. The Veterans Suicide Prevention Channel (VSPChannel) is embracing the arts because it has been proven that art therapy is critical to healing many of these veterans. Through the arts, veterans can promote wellness in their personal lives and enrich their communities at the very same time. Just look into the research and studies done at places such as the INTREPID Centers and VA facilities located throughout America who offer art therapy.

The VSPChannel is the creator and sponsor of the Austin Veterans Arts Festival (AVAFEST). The AVAFEST is a national arts festival for veterans and their family members with one single purpose in mind, decreasing and stopping the veteran suicide crisis in America by using the arts. The AVAFEST Committee to helm this effort is a dedicated group of organizations, people and agencies that have been volunteering their efforts to create a great venue for veterans to practice art and promote its use to others. City of Austin Mayor, Steve Adler, proclaimed November 15, 2018, "AVAFEST DAY”.



The VSPChannel created the AVAFEST for the purposes of saving veterans from suicide by showing them and their families that they can promote wellness in their lives by practicing the arts through painting, zen tango, singing, dancing, carving, model building, writing, poetry, cooking, comedy, and much more. We hope that you will join us in our mission to help end veteran suicides through the arts. You can start by purchasing our T-Shirts. Your purchase is tax deductible. Learn more about the AVAFEST by visiting our website at: www.avafest.org



The VSPChannel is a national 24-hours, 7-days-a-week internet channel designed to provide resource information, wellness videos and programming, and veteran entertainment. The VSPChannel is a nonprofit 501c3 organization, and all donations are tax deductible.

Visit us at: www.vspchannel.vet