ALVets sponsors suicide prevention hike
Attendees participate in the 22 push up challenge, which has its origins in a 2012 VA study that 22 veterans commit suicide each day.
Published on February 22, 2023
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ALVets is Air Liquide's Business Resource Group (BRG) dedicated to supporting military services and promoting the hiring of veterans across the company.
The statistics are concerning. Although military veterans account for only 8 percent of U.S. adults, they account for 13.5 percent of suicides, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. The ravages of war take their toll on many of those who valiantly serve our country, but thankfully, there are a number of organizations around the U.S. that aim to provide veterans with the mental health services they need.
Air Liquide's ALVets Business Resource Group (BRG), which is committed to serving veterans and their families, recently supported one such organization, VOW22. VOW22 is a Texas-based nonprofit that addresses the needs of veterans who experience mental, emotional or physical trauma due to their military service. The organization seeks to prevent veteran suicide through community awareness, camaraderie, interaction, and communication with veterans.
The ALVets BRG sponsored VOW22's 8th annual Suicide Prevention Hike in Lake Jackson, approximately 55 miles south of Houston. A dozen ALVets, friends and family participated in the 4-mile hike to raise money and awareness of Veterans' PTSD. A post-hike event included military displays, vender booths, food trucks and live music.
Since VOW22’s inception they have helped over 500 service members and veterans, provided over 1,300 counseling sessions for service members, veterans and their families, and they receive over 5 requests a week for support. All of these services are provided free of charge, thanks to the corporate and individual donors of VOW22.
ALVets is Air Liquide's BRG dedicated to supporting military services and promoting the hiring of veterans across the company. ALVets President, Mike Johnson said:
This year’s hike was great. The weather was sunny and cool and there was a large turn out. This is my 5th year taking part in the event and every year it gets better. I plan on attending next year and my goal is for Air Liquide to provide a watering station for the hike.
