Washington State has a new license plate emblem highlighting the 988 crisis hotline and suicide prevention, with funding for veteran community and peer support programs

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, in 2020 nearly 6150 veterans died by suicide. 181 were our brothers and sisters here in Washington State. Veterans often make up more than 15% of Washington’s total suicides although they are only 7% of the population. And it is estimated that every suicide impacts the lives of at least 100 other people.

But these are not just statistics to me. In November of 2011, my husband Greg—intelligent, funny, loving, a veteran of the US Navy SOF and struggling with chronic pain and moral injury —took his life with a firearm.

There are many veteran service organizations in Washington, and like Veteran Rites, many are organized around a peer support model. Some of them engage in threshold and ceremony through wilderness retreats, others are based in farming and agriculture, horsemanship and outdoor adventure or equine therapy. Often times their mission includes encouraging veterans to further engage in community service and leadership. These organizations can offer a transformative experience, but at a more basic level they offer a new cohort and community particularly for those who are transitioning to civilian life, struggling with uncertainty and isolation.

Some of these community based and peer support organizations also serve family members of veterans and military service members. Family members, in addition to being sources of support for veterans, are also at increased risk of suicide when a loved one takes their own life. That was certainly my experience and a local veterans peer support program helped save my life.

In 2015 I was still very much struggling with my husband’s death, with my grief and very intense guilt. In my town of Olympia I discovered Garden Raised Bounty’s Victory Farm, a veterans program that combined farming with intensive peer support. From the day I walked onto that farm, those veterans (including Veteran Rites founder Mark Oravsky) welcomed and accepted me. They not only understood my husband and who he was but also understood me in my grief, having lost many brothers and sisters to suicide and many having experienced their own struggles with suicidal ideation. I felt I had finally found the right nurturing and supportive place where I could be myself, be understood and accepted in my grief without judgment. I finally really started to heal day by day alongside this group of veterans and their families.

This is why I was so pleased to be able to attend the reception at the State Capitol for the unveiling of the new state license plate emblem that will raise dedicated funds in support of suicide prevention and peer support programs for veterans, military service members and their families. The new emblem is available to adorn any vehicle’s Washington State license plate with the banner: “988 Lifeline -There Is Hope!” in white typeface on a bold red background. The new emblem costs $18, $10 of which will be remitted to the Veteran and Military Member Suicide Prevention Account established in E2SHB 1181, sponsored by Rep. Tina Orwall and passed by the legislature during the 2022 session.

In addition to Rep. Orwall, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs Director Alfie Alvarado and Department of Licensing director Teresa Berntsen were present, as was Governor Inslee who joined us via zoom. An Iraq War veteran, Jason, also gave moving testimony of his own personal journey highlighting the critical need for peer support in saving the lives of veterans.

Not only will the new 988 emblem raise funds for grants to community based suicide prevention and peer support programs, it will raise awareness about the new 988 crisis line number. Beginning in July of 2022 all states were required by federal law to have the 988 number which links callers to information about and services in our state’s mental health crisis response system, similarly to how 911 links callers to the emergency response system.

I am grateful to have been part of the team that crafted the enabling legislation E2SHB 1181, which included Forefront Suicide Prevention at the University of Washington School of Social Work, WDVA, veterans and members of the Governor’s challenge committee to reduce veteran and service members suicide. In addition to providing grants to community and peer support organizations funded by the emblem, E2SHB 1181 included encouraging safe storage of firearms, educating medical providers about the new 988 crisis hotline and appropriate benefits and services for veterans , and established the authority to create a state Global War on Terror Memorial.

To learn how to obtain the new 988 emblem for your vehicle please visit https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/sp-vet-suicide-emblem.html

Jo Arlow is a force of nature, lawyer, advocate, professional photographer, survivor, nature explorer, friend, and inspiration to Veteran Rites since our first Rite of Passage in 2017. We are honored to walk with her in honor of her whole self and Greg’s memory to bring our our people home.