LANSING, MI — A Lansing-based nonprofit is getting a major boost in its effort to prevent veteran suicide across Michigan. VETLIFE has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to expand outreach aimed at identifying veterans who may be falling through the cracks before a crisis develops.
The organization says its approach is meant to reach people earlier, especially veterans who are not actively connected to VA health care. Rather than waiting for someone to ask for help, VETLIFE wants to spot warning signs and connect veterans with support while problems are still manageable.
The funding comes as the VA reports that 6,398 veterans died by suicide in 2023, and that 61% of them were not receiving care from the Veterans Health Administration at the time.
Why VETLIFE says earlier outreach matters
VETLIFE co-founder and CEO Joshua Parish, an Iraq War veteran, said suicide prevention cannot depend entirely on a veteran taking the first step. He described the organization’s mission as identifying people before they are in immediate danger, when help can still make a difference.
The nonprofit says the signs of trouble may not always look like a mental health emergency. Instead, they can show up as missed mortgage payments, unresolved disability claims, job loss or other setbacks that affect daily life and stability.
VETLIFE believes those pressures can build over time if no one intervenes. The organization says timely support can keep a difficult situation from becoming a much more serious crisis.
A goal to reach veterans before a crisis turns urgent
Parish said the organization’s goal is to identify veterans months before a crisis rather than moments before one. He said that kind of shift would fundamentally change what prevention looks like for the people VETLIFE hopes to serve.
He contrasted early intervention with emergency response, saying that by the time someone is on a bridge, holding a gun or calling a crisis line, the situation has already reached a dangerous point. VETLIFE wants to act earlier than that.
The new grant is intended to strengthen that proactive model by giving the nonprofit more ability to find veterans who may be isolated, overwhelmed or unaware of available help.
Who the grant is meant to help
VETLIFE says the money will support outreach to rural veterans, Native American veterans and veterans who are not using VA health care. The organization also plans to focus on veterans facing financial, social or economic instability.
Those groups can be harder to reach through traditional health systems, which is one reason the nonprofit says it wants to build connections in the places veterans already spend time. That can include community events, veterans organizations, digital outreach, peer connections and local partners.
VETLIFE says it also will use its existing technology and programs to help identify people who may need support and direct them toward resources before their struggles worsen.
How VETLIFE plans to use community networks
The organization says its strategy is built around meeting veterans where they are instead of expecting them to come forward on their own. That means leaning on trusted relationships and familiar settings rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
By working through community events, veterans groups and other local connections, VETLIFE hopes to reach people who may be disconnected from formal care systems. The nonprofit says those touchpoints can help bring attention to problems that might otherwise stay hidden.
The grant is expected to help VETLIFE expand that outreach model and widen the number of veterans it can contact across the state.
The nonprofit's broader prevention target
VETLIFE says it is aiming to reduce veteran suicide by 50% by 2030. The nonprofit sees the grant as one part of that long-term effort, supporting both direct outreach and the systems needed to connect veterans with help.
The organization’s message is that prevention works best when it starts well before someone reaches a crisis point. That philosophy shapes how it talks about warning signs, outreach and the need to identify stressors early.
For veterans and families who need immediate help, the Veterans Crisis Line is available by calling 988 and pressing 1 or by texting 838255. Help is available even if a veteran is not enrolled in VA health care or receiving benefits.
