The Partners of Alabama’s Challenge and City of Fairhope will host a veterans well-being town hall and resource fair on Tuesday, March 26 starting at 10 a.m. at the James P. Nix Senior Center.

The town hall will feature a keynote address from State Rep. Frances Holk-Jones, who will share a personal experience with the tragic reality involving suicide. The resource fair will provide an opportunity to meet with ADVA Veterans Service Officers to learn more about how to apply for VA benefits, file for VA compensation and pension claims, access healthcare services, and discuss additional veterans-related programs. Other well-being and mental health-related resources from the Alabama Coast will be in attendance, as well.

The two-part event is inspired by a statewide effort called Alabama’s Challenge for Preventing Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF), which aims to combat the continuing stigma Veterans face with mental illness. Recently released data shows 143 Veterans in Alabama died by suicide in 2021, which is a rate higher than the national veteran average and significantly higher than the national civilian average.

You can learn more about Alabama’s Challenge and Veterans well-being resources by visiting vetsforhope.com.