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Firewatch says Clay County veteran suicides down 58% from 2019 baseline
Summary
A Firewatch presentation to the Clay County Board of County Commissioners reported a sustained regional decline in veteran suicides and credited community "watchstander" training and local veteran services for much of the reduction.
Nick Howland, representing the nonprofit Firewatch and identified as a Jacksonville City Council member, told the Clay County Board of County Commissioners on April 22 that veteran suicides in Clay County fell from 19 in 2019 to eight in 2023, a 58% decline from the 2019 baseline. Howland said Firewatch’s Watchstander program — free online or in-person training that teaches people to recognize crisis signs and refer veterans to services — and local veteran service organizations are central to that decline. "Clay County has had the best 4‑year reductions…suicides from our 2019 baseline among veterans are down 58 percent," Howland said.
Howland presented regional data compiled through a data‑sharing agreement with the Florida Department of…
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