Give an Hour's Van Dahlen to lead new White House task force on suicide

Abstract

The board of directors of Give an Hour, a national nonprofit that provides free mental health services to those in need, including service members, veterans, their families and other at‐risk groups, announced June 19 that the White House, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), has appointed Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., to lead the PREVENTS (President's Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End National Tragedy of Suicide) Task Force. The task force was created by President Donald Trump's executive order signed earlier this year, a press release stated. The PREVENTS Task Force will create a comprehensive national “Roadmap” that will weave together efforts by the federal government with state, regional, business, nonprofit, faith‐based, academic and community efforts. The task force will be co‐chaired by the secretary of the VA and the assistant to the president for domestic policy. Eight cabinet members will also be involved, including the secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, as well as top officials from other key government entities, such as the Office of Management and Budget and National Security Affairs.