Initiative Launches Suicide Prevention Campaign for Women Veterans

In September 2025, the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at the Up Center in Virginia Beach introduced a significant campaign aimed at addressing a critical but often overlooked issue: the elevated risk of suicide among women veterans. This initiative seeks to shed light on the unique challenges faced by women who have served in the military, highlighting the urgent need for specialized mental health support.

Research indicates that women veterans are dying by suicide at nearly twice the rate of their civilian counterparts, with the numbers rising notably in the post-9/11 era. However, the specific struggles of women in the military and post-service often go unrecognized. Many women veterans experience military sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, or both, with these issues frequently remaining untreated during their service or after discharge. The systemic gaps in mental health care and support services can leave these women without appropriate resources.

The campaign, titled "Have Her Six," draws from the military phrase "got your six," meaning to have someone's back. It aims to raise public awareness about the high suicide risk among women veterans, promote tailored prevention strategies, and foster greater societal support for women in the military community.

Tanetta Hassell, director of the clinic and herself connected to the military through family, emphasizes the importance of meeting women veterans where they are. The clinic offers prompt mental health care, with services available within 10 days of initial contact, regardless of insurance status or financial capability. It also provides child care, understanding that this can be a barrier for many women seeking help.

Collaborating with the Department of Veterans Affairs, United Way, and other organizations, the clinic actively promotes its services through social media and other outreach efforts.

A recent study by the clinic revealed misconceptions about suicide risks among women veterans, especially concerning firearm use. In 2022, women veterans were found to be over 144% more likely to die by firearm suicide compared to their civilian peers. Additionally, many women veterans are ineligible for VA care or are not connected with VA services, further complicating access to support.

Hassell stresses that resilience is common among women veterans and encourages them to seek help. Despite misconceptions, nearly 20% of the clinic's military clients are women, nearly twice the proportion of women in the broader veteran population—a testament to the growing need for dedicated support. Today, over 2 million women veterans reside in the United States, representing the fastest-growing segment of the veteran community.

Her message to women veterans is clear: "We are here for you. You are resilient, you have overcome many challenges, and it is safe to seek our care—no questions asked."

This campaign highlights the importance of targeted mental health initiatives to reduce veteran suicide and improve support for women who have served.