Tom Cullerton and taskforce members to continue open hearings on Veterans' Suicide Prevention
Tom Cullerton and task force members to continue open hearings on Veterans' Suicide Prevention
VILLA PARK- According to a recent U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs study, 22 veterans commit suicide every day in this country.
To stop this alarming trend, State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) and the Task Force on Veterans' Suicide will hear from veterans, health care professionals and community groups to investigate the causes to and prevention of suicides among returning Illinois veterans.
"Every life we save will have an everlasting impact on families across our community and nation," Cullerton said. "Our mission is clear: we need to reduce all statistics to zero suicides."
Cullerton served in the Army from 1990 to 1993 as an infantryman. He draws on his own experiences to improve the lives of people in his district and those throughout Illinois.
"Serving our country is one of the most honorable things you can do," Cullerton said. "And in return, it's our duty to provide our returning veterans with resources to honor the sacrifices they have made to protect our democratic values."
The task force will meet next week at College of Lake County in Grayslake, Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove and Triton College in River Grove. The task force has previously met Springfield and Belleville.
The general public is invited to attend and should call Cullerton's Villa Park office at (630) 903-6662 for additional information.
College of Lake County, Grayslake
Date: Tuesday, June 14
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will reconvene from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington Street, C-Wing, Large Conference Room C003, Grayslake, IL
Waubonsee Community College
Date: Wednesday, June 15
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Waubonsee Community College- Sugar Grove Campus, Academic and Professional Center (APC) Room 110-D, Route Rt. 47, Waubonsee Drive, Sugar Grove, IL
Triton College in River Grove
Date: Thursday, June 16
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Triton College, Building B, Parachute Lounge (located on West side of Fifth Ave.) 2000 Fifth Ave, River Grove, IL
The task force will submit a report at the end of the year to the General Assembly with their recommendations for legislative measures. The full member list is available at http://illinoisjoiningforces.org/1161-2/