After connecting with the Young County Veterans Service Officer, Dallas VA Medical Center will be providing resources and gun locks to assist veterans and others in the area.
Dallas VAMC provides primary care and specialty health services such as cardiology, mental health services and treatment for spinal cord injuries, suicide prevention, women’s health care and more.
Young County Veterans Service Officer Adam LaVine said Dallas VAMC reached out to provide promotional items and mental health related informational pamphlets for veterans who are in crisis and he inquired if there were other services available.
“They mentioned the idea of gun locks that could be sent over as well,” LaVine said. “I have received 200 gun locks that I’m eager to get dispersed out to our businesses and other medical facilities, so that if anyone, veteran or not, reports their facility in a mental health crisis, that they can get some assistance that they need.”
The VSO said that a cable-style gun lock goes through the magazine well and the receiver and comes up through where the bolt would sit to be able to feed another round.
“What it does is that it doesn’t allow the bolt face to catch or the firing pin to engage with the next round, so the cable lock will effectively make this weapon ineffective,” he said.
The gun lock can be handed out to those who are caring for someone who has had mental health crises where they have had suicidal or homicidal ideations.
“That way their loved ones or caretakers can effectively lock up their own weapons, as well as the individuals’ weapons, so that they can’t be used without having a key or a combination,” LaVine said.
Dallas VAMC fields crisis response calls from the 988 number for the Young County area and so the office initially reached out to LaVine to establish an area contact to provide resources for veterans.
“As a VSO, my top priority is supporting the health, safety and well being of our local veterans and their family members,” he said. “One of the most urgent challenges that we face today is suicide prevention. By making these gun locks and educational materials available through local businesses and medical offices and directly from my office, we can add an important layer of protection and support for those who are struggling.”
On top of the gun locks and information and promotional materials sent, LaVine inquired if there was any additional training he could receive from the center to assist veterans locally.
The organization provided him with information for a Crisis Response Trainer who works at the center.
“They mentioned a S.A.V.E. training that can be offered one-on-one, multiple times via a virtual training,” LaVine said. “…I’m trying to work in… a one-day class for all of the community leaders that have an interest in handling crisis response for mental health subjects.”
VA S.A.V.E. Training helps those receiving the training to be prepared to act with care and compassion if they come across a veterans who is in crisis or having thoughts of suicide.
Serving as the local VSO, LaVine assists veterans in multiple ways through his office located at the Young County Annex.
“I do my best to deliver the whole book of all things veterans benefits. Now, whether that be VBA, VHA, patient advocacy, DD214 and records amendments and retrievals, or just something as simple as VA disability, pension or even benefits for the caregiver for you at the house,” he said. “I have connections with local nonprofits and other non-local nonprofits in order to assist in areas that the VA will not assist you with, whether that be rental and housing assistance, job searching and whatever else the veteran or surviving spouse or family member may need.”