LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – As communities across Michigan prepare to observe Memorial Day, officials with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency say the holiday is both a time of remembrance and a reminder of the ongoing needs veterans face after returning home.
“Memorial Day is a time to recognize the brave men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” said Natalie McCorvie, senior communications representative for the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. “And it’s a reminder that freedom comes at a cost.”
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, housed within the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, serves as the state’s central coordinating agency for veteran services. McCorvie says the agency helps connect veterans and their families with federal, state, and local benefits and resources, including education assistance, employment programs, mental health services, and help obtaining military records.
McCorvie said mental health and suicide prevention remain major focuses for the agency.
“Michigan is home to 486,000 veterans,” McCorvie said. “Recently, that statistic has gone down to 17. However, one is still too many.”
She was referring to the national statistic tracking the number of veterans who die by suicide each day.
The agency’s mental health and suicide prevention division also works to address homelessness among veterans. According to McCorvie, roughly 1,537 veterans in Michigan are currently experiencing homelessness.
“In the state of Michigan, there’s roughly 1,537 veterans experiencing homelessness,” she said. “Veterans experiencing homelessness are 146% more likely to die by suicide.”
McCorvie said the agency works to reduce stigma surrounding mental health care while connecting veterans with resources and peer support programs. One of those efforts is the Link2Life program, which pairs veterans with trained mentors around the state who can provide peer support and case management.
“Our main focus is to serve veterans at the end of the day,” McCorvie said. “No matter what demographic, no matter gender, anything, we are here to help veterans no matter what.”
Agency officials said outreach efforts extend across Michigan, including rural communities and the Upper Peninsula, where veterans can sometimes face additional barriers to accessing services.
For veterans or family members seeking assistance, the agency encourages people to contact the Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center by calling 1-800-MICH-VET.
