A bill designed to reduce veterans’ suicides, through more accurate data, has bi-partisan support in the Legislature. Sponsors of the legislation say it would make California one of only 21 states to provide complete reports on the rates. They say data is already collected by county coroners but it’s not used by the state to help determine how to improve prevention outreach and other programs. The director of Nevada County Veterans Services, Kevin Edwards, says more local help can be critical…

click to listen to Kevin Edwards

Supporters say more complete data will reveal a much higher suicide rate that will call more attention to the problem. Meanwhile, Edwards says he’s just applied for state funding help through a recently-approved voter bond…

click to listen to Kevin Edwards

The bill would require the State Department of Public Health to use data already collected on the death certificate to compile and submit a report to the Legislature and the Department of Veterans Affairs on a yearly basis. Current data shows that there are 22 veteran sucides a day in the United States. But Edwards says, sadly, that’s a greatly-underreported number. There is also a toll-free crisis line available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.