Welcome to "Ability Radio," hosted by Angus Drigo and brought to you by the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands. In this episode, we sit down with Ms. Caribel Leyva-Romero, Community Engagement Program Coordinator for the Veterans Health Administration. Together, they discuss the importance of suicide prevention and the broader healthcare needs of veterans in the Virgin Islands.
Ms. Romero shares insights into the structure of the Veterans Administration and her role in creating community coalitions aimed at improving veterans' access to services. She highlights the collaborative efforts between local organizations, families, and the VA to address gaps in care and support systems for veterans.
Tune in to learn more about how you can get involved in these crucial initiatives and help make a difference in the lives of veterans in your community.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:03):
The views expressed on this program are not necessarily those of WTJX,
its board, staff, or underwriters.
Good day, and welcome to Ability Radio.
I am your host, Angus Drigo. The radio broadcast is brought to you by the Disability
Rights Center of the Virgin Islands.
We are a protection and advocacy agency providing legal support and services
(00:27):
for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that their rights are not violated, that there's no abuse.
And we also provide services to families, children with disabilities,
IEP representation and the like.
Our offices are in Frederikstead next to the old K-MAT West on the left side
(00:49):
if you're heading to Frederikstead. Our number there is 772-1200.
And we're also in St. Thomas at Havensite.
And our number there is 776-4303. Today we have Ms.
Caribel Leyva Romero. She's Community Engagement Program Coordinator for the
(01:11):
Veterans Health Administration.
I think I got that right, right? Okay. And I want to emphasize health administration
because there are, I think, three separate branches.
And welcome. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
And you're here in St. Croix. Yep. Trying to put together a coalition.
Exactly. So, hi, everyone that is hearing this radio transmission today.
(01:37):
I'm a social worker for a profession, but here at DVA Caribbean Healthcare System,
them and the community engagement and partnership coordinator.
I have been with the VA for two years
now and part of the work that I do is to connect with the community and the
base of that connection with the community is for suicide prevention and we
(02:01):
have been we have had the opportunity to for the last almost last year to start
connections with the USVI.
As part of the scope of service that we do at the VA Caribbean,
that is Puerto Rico and USVI veterans.
So prior to that, I worked on the local PR department of health with rape victims
(02:25):
and community organizations.
So that's my background, at least for prior to attend and to start working with the VA. Okay.
Before we go into a little bit
more detail on the collaborative group that you're trying to put together.
Tell us a little bit more, because about the divisions within the federal,
(02:49):
the Veterans Administration.
So it is important to clarify that the Department of Veterans Affairs actually
have three administrations.
That's the Benefit Administration that we call BBA, the Healthcare Administration
that I work for, and the Cemetery Administration.
So, there are three sister administrations under the same department,
(03:12):
and one to another depends on eligibility and stuff to get the services.
So, when we talk about health care administration, they are divided through
regional or what we call VISN, Veteran Integrated Service.
Risk and part of the importance
is that it has all the medical services
(03:34):
the mental health services among other
stuff all under the health care system and the
program that I represent that is suicide prevention have multiple
divisions and that the specific division under the program of suicide prevention
that every facility from the healthcare system has one that covers all the covers
(03:58):
of that facility also have some initiative.
And one of that initiative is the one that I'm the world one,
the Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator that at the same time responds
to community-based interventions for suicide prevention under the suicide prevention office.
(04:20):
What we call VAC, that is the main administration office in Washington, D.C.
So that's kind of a little bit of how we structure at least for suicide prevention,
because that's kind of the same thing that happens for the medical part and other areas.
And suicide prevention is under mental health.
(04:45):
So that's at the same time, even though it's under mental health,
Both at the end, everyone in the healthcare system and everyone in the Department
of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs,
need to do suicide prevention because it's the one clinical priority for the
whole Department of Veterans Affairs.
So that's who we are in this role.
(05:09):
My job is to get the spread of the word, that importance of everyone getting
involved in the suicide prevention initiative and awareness.
To do some initiative between and within the community and where the community is at.
So that's me and that's the program that I work with.
(05:32):
You mentioned that...
Even your area of expertise or your area of concern is suicide and prevention,
but it also encompasses all the other medical components.
Can you just go into that a little bit? Because the idea about having you come
by is not just to talk about suicide prevention, which is important,
(05:55):
but it can lead to other service areas for veterans on the island.
Because I know it's difficult for a lot of veterans to get services,
even when they go to Puerto Rico. Yeah.
So part of the public health approach that it's working through this program
is to identify those service member veterans and to see what is in the community and what is not.
(06:23):
What we have as VA and what we don't have and how we can help with that gap
with the community itself.
Self and to get the resources, the information, the educational materials,
and to put the power within the community to start also doing job with them.
Public health approach at the end is to recognize what are the needs of the people.
(06:48):
And when we respond to the needs of the people, we actually do suicide prevention.
Why? Because if I have someone that doesn't have the medical clinical care appropriately,
probably having situation with the medical part.
And let's say chronic pain, let's say PTSD, let's say chronic diseases.
(07:11):
And a person, for example, is not working or not covering that need,
at the end, probably is going to have risk factors.
And those risk factors can develop or can impulse some suicidal ideation.
And that's why we look at it as a public health approach.
(07:33):
Because at the end, we don't necessarily need to say, ah, we are doing suicide prevention work.
No, we are responding to the needs of the veteran and try to have them the best
care that they need or that they deserve.
There's some lag and some gaps, reality within the system.
And that's why it's important to see, okay, if we don't have it,
(07:56):
what is out there in the community that probably could help that person?
And we like to get on board the family members as well, because part of the
importance is the support systems.
And some of our veterans have a lot of support systems, but others don't have.
(08:19):
And that also can be a risk factor. And again, that's public health approach,
because we get involved with everyone.
One. So that's why we cannot see the suicide prevention as a solo part.
We need to see suicide prevention when we respond to the needs of a person,
(08:39):
when we connect that person with the services that are required and that they need at that moment.
And also understand that not everything is going to be resolved,
but what we can do as a community together, all the components,
to get that risk factors as low as possible.
(09:00):
Thank you for mentioning that. I know that folks out there listening might want
to know, well, is this tied into any kind of funding sources so that the local community can tap into?
You want to expand a little bit on that? Yeah, so the program does not come from federal funding.
We can do as a CPC, Committee Engagement and Partnership Coordinator.
(09:25):
Is to, if an organization or coalition identify a possible fund or some fund
is identified there that probably the coalition can be benefited,
we can collaborate with information and the coalition decides to get that fund.
Then we have to also as federal
employee we have to step aside for that
(09:47):
process but for example if they need data from
the VA well how many veterans there are how many services are getting or not
getting that's part of the collaboration process within the coalition that we
can do but at this moment there are some fundings out there but not the CBISP
community-based intervention for
(10:08):
suicide prevention itself, comes with money.
And we know that that can be challenging for the community work.
And that's kind of how we can manage and see how we can manage to do something
that doesn't require a lot of money expenses,
but that voluntary service and that initiative to create and to develop the
(10:34):
organizations to work And to add the work of helping the veterans within the
already services that they have,
not necessarily create new services.
So that's the spectrum under the position.
And at the end is get that strength to the community to act and come together to work.
(10:55):
What we have, what we can do with what we have. Okay.
I know that you have two groups already established in Puerto Rico,
one in urban and one in rural areas.
Yeah. We don't have that dynamic in the VI, so it's a little bit unique.
Can you explain now, since you've been here, what are your first steps and what
(11:18):
have you done in terms of getting that coalition built up?
Well, part of the CBISP is that they will try to approach this model of the
three priorities through different levels.
So we have been working with what we call state level or territory level initiatives
(11:39):
that we have the opportunity to host on December 2033, a mental health summit in St.
Croix. And recently, in May, we had the opportunity to connect and create a
mental health summit in St. John.
And from those two mental health summits, I had the opportunity to connect with local organizations.
And the idea that I started doing in January from this year is to start giving
(12:06):
that follow-up with those organizations and get them to know me.
And obviously, I get to get me to know what the organizations are doing within VI and what, if so,
something I'm willing or want to connect with the veterans in the community
and explain the idea, their priorities,
(12:28):
do you see yourself working with this?
After various meetings, we got multiple organizations to join and to create
a committee that is going to be developed on our community coalition.
Because my work could be in two ways.
Create coalitions from scratch, like we are building one in St.
(12:52):
Croix right now. Or join 16 coalitions.
And the approach of joining coalition was the first that I thought that was
going to help because there's already an organization working in the community.
But at the end, the organization wanted to collaborate together,
to do something together, because everyone can bring something to the table.
My role within this group is get them together, be a subject matter expert to
(13:18):
planning, to creating needs assessments,
let's say create an actual action plan to do goals, objectives, time frames.
That's my role within the coalition. and bring their expertise on suicide prevention.
That's what we are doing. Actually, right now in August, we are doing a meeting. We did a meeting.
(13:43):
And hopefully in the next couple of months, we are going to be doing some actions
within the community of St. Croix as St.
Croix, because as Angus shared with you, the public, St.
Croix is an island, and we don't have that division and that difference.
And that is the importance of a role like mine to be and to meet the community
(14:09):
where the community is at.
I'm not here to impose anything or the VA is not to impose how to do the stuff, but how...
Do you think the organizations in the community can do this stuff?
Okay, so I joined that effort.
And I joined with my knowledge.
Okay, if we want to do health fairs, for example, how we can do it to manage
(14:34):
and to connect and to reach out to the veterans that are not connected.
Because that's where this is coming from.
There's a lot of veterans that are not connected to the VA.
Either they are not eligible or that's
another whole topic with the eligibility or they
decide to not be connected with the VA and that's okay but
(14:55):
the statistic nationally not necessarily the
VA wants the VI wants is that
the most people or the most veterans are
dying by suicide because of the health
needs and stuff are the ones are not connected
with the VA so how, I can reach them how can
I work with them how I can connect them with the
(15:16):
VA or without or with the community resources so that's
the base from where this this is
coming we need to reach out to those veterans are
not connected we need to reach out to those veterans that are.
Probably isolated in their houses and what
a best way to actually connect that
(15:37):
with those veterans with your neighbors
with your family members and with
the community itself at the end we
are not everywhere we don't
have people everywhere but there are
people everywhere so if we get
everyone to have the knowledge of the basic knowledge of how I can help someone
(16:01):
in needs then we have a community ready for crisis management so at
least we connect them to the to provide services that's kind of
the whole thing of the whole.
Work that we are trying to do right now in St. Croix. And hopefully we get some outcomes.
We know that the community works doesn't have results immediate.
(16:25):
We know that the community works takes time.
And me not being from the VA, it's also another step that we have to work with.
So I encourage everyone to get to know me.
And we are neighbors. We are Caribbean Islanders.
(16:47):
And the idea is to get together and save lives. Thank you for that.
You mentioned St. Croix a lot, but you are duplicating this on St.
Thomas as well. That's the idea. Okay.
The other question I had was, with all of this collaboration thing in place,
you mentioned groups, family members.
(17:09):
How does somebody get involved if they want to get involved in this coalition?
Well, at this moment, one of the invitations that I have is to start looking
if there's already assistance strategies in their communities.
Start asking, how can I help someone that is alone?
How can I connect with someone? Is my neighbor a veteran?
(17:33):
Is my neighbor a service is my coworker a veteran?
I never asked them. Start breaking the idea that we are not available or we
cannot ask a simple question that's, have you ever served?
And that simple question can bring you a lot of information.
(17:56):
So at this moment, we are in the process of building that coalition.
So probably we're going to be doing some stuff on the next month so be there
pending if what's going to happen on St. Croix but you don't have to wait until
the coalition actually is working to start.
Connecting with people and to make sure that if you see someone that is at risk,
(18:22):
help them and connect them with the right services.
I mean, at the end of the time, it's like a campaign that the VA has. Don't wait, reach out.
Well, the same thing I say to the people. Don't wait until something is happening
and reach out to the veteran that probably is in need.
You can be a change for that person. I want to go back to what you said about
(18:47):
having the differences in culture and the differences in how the islands are set up.
For us, though, coming here, what have you witnessed as the hindrances or what
we can do differently since you've already done this in Puerto Rico to make
this coalition work and really establish it quickly.
(19:11):
Because it's really a need. I think that even though the culture is different,
what I have experienced is that the enthusiasm of doing something for the community,
it's kind of the same. Let me explain.
When I started to do this work two years ago, I had the opportunity to meet
(19:34):
with other organizations that are already working.
But they're working in their silos.
I mean, like in their solo, in their silos. And they're not communicating with themselves.
So I have been seeing that this is happening as well here.
But the response of acting or to start doing from the community,
(19:56):
it has been faster from Puerto Rico.
And that's something very interesting. thing i have so
for some organizations and from one of the coalitions
that I'm working in with a survey in Puerto
Rico we ended up finishing the survey after a year starting to work for
example because of the calendar too many things happening on the same time etc
(20:19):
and the first time that I was here in San Cruz was on December 23 and we are
talking less than a year that we already have a committee.
That says something. That says that community wants to work.
Organization wants to work together.
And the sense of community itself is being very humble for me to see in the USVI.
(20:43):
So that's something that I take up on really, really serious and feel very humble
to be welcome as I have been.
I mean, because I have been felt very welcome in the USVI and that's good too.
Okay, how, what's, after you form the coalition and you have the groups together,
(21:05):
and you say you could lend your expertise and your support to it.
How often would you come back? How do you keep the momentum of keeping groups together?
Because I can tell you it's very difficult to do, to get people to come out.
Because this is all a labor of love, really. Nobody's getting paid to do this.
But I like the idea about having all these integrated services within these
(21:31):
groups so that you can provide a central hub, basically, for services to veterans.
So how are you how you're going to be able
to keep that I mean you have the experience in Puerto Rico
certainly, tell us how
how we can prosper in
in that regard. Yeah, the idea is to do
(21:51):
in this phase start to do regular
meetings so we have been having some middle individuals, so we had to figure
it out in that action plan to make sure that we do regular meetings to get the
job done and identify realistic goals and identify realistic people that is going to do the job.
(22:12):
And my plan, I'm assigned to work with the USVI.
I'm assigned to work as a CPC for the USVI.
So, I have funding to travel. That's a good thing because that means that I can
plan to at least every other month to come to the St.
Croix, but that doesn't mean, or St. Thomas, but
(22:33):
that doesn't me that between those months we are
not going to be meeting right we have the opportunity to keep doing the
virtual job and we can keep going and be
in person to then the follow-ups so that's going
to be like kind of a hybrid work and since
from the beginning we need to think about sustainability that if
(22:54):
tomorrow I'm not here tomorrow, I leave the position
let's say or the politician is another
person that the group's still there that the
group has so much great milestones and the great efforts that it can keep
going with or without someone not necessarily me not me only let's say someone
(23:14):
from the group left also but the group keeps so that's the idea how we're going
to do it we're in the building of it.
Let's make sure I mean at least I'm going to make
sure, that I'm going to be here at least every other
month or let's see how it happens with the
new fiscal year but how it's going to be the currency but
that's going to be there that's going to be there how can somebody wants
(23:38):
to get involved how do they go about doing that so your contact or when the
local group is established how is anybody going to know get all that information
well at this moment everyone Anyone can contact me through my email or my cell phone.
My cell phone is 939-649-1813.
(23:59):
My email is more long. So, if you get the number, let me say it again, 939-649-1813.
That's my working phone. That's going to be available if you are interested.
If you have if I gave you that
seed in your mind that I
want to see what it's going to be doing in St. Croix give
(24:22):
me a call and definitely I want to add
you to the group that we already are working with
and anyone can join also you
want to give us the suicide hotline number too yeah so
September is the suicide prevention awareness month so
let's we need to get the spread the word out
there the 988 is the lifeline for
(24:45):
everyone but if you press the option one that's
the veteran crisis line and we can connect that
veteran with the service needs that's something that
we do follow up those consults that receive that's mental health crisis and
mental health needs lifelines and please remember that suicide prevention awareness
(25:07):
is everybody's business and suicide prevention, it is preventable.
Thank you so much, Caribel, for coming out. I really appreciate a lot of information.
This program is going to be on our website, drcvi.org.
You can go in there and listen to it when it's aired.
(25:28):
If you want to hear it again for the information, you can visit our website.
I want to thank you for coming out. Appreciate it. All the way from Puerto Rico.
No, thank you for having me. Caribel, thank you. Yeah, thank you for coming
out. Angus Drigo signing off for Ability Radio.
You can reach us, 772-1200, 340 that is, and 340-776-4303 on St.
(25:50):
Thomas. Thank you for listening.
The views expressed on this program are not necessarily those of WTJX,
its board, staff, or underwriters.
The views expressed on this program are not necessarily those of WTJX,
its board, staff, or underwriters.
Good day, and welcome to Ability Radio.
I am your host, Angus Drigo. The radio broadcast is brought to you by the Disability
Rights Center of the Virgin Islands.
We are a protection and advocacy agency providing legal support and services
(00:27):
for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that their rights are not violated, that there's no abuse.
And we also provide services to families, children with disabilities,
IEP representation and the like.
Our offices are in Frederikstead next to the old K-MAT West on the left side
(00:49):
if you're heading to Frederikstead. Our number there is 772-1200.
And we're also in St. Thomas at Havensite.
And our number there is 776-4303. Today we have Ms.
Caribel Leyva Romero. She's Community Engagement Program Coordinator for the
(01:11):
Veterans Health Administration.
I think I got that right, right? Okay. And I want to emphasize health administration
because there are, I think, three separate branches.
And welcome. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
And you're here in St. Croix. Yep. Trying to put together a coalition.
Exactly. So, hi, everyone that is hearing this radio transmission today.
(01:37):
I'm a social worker for a profession, but here at DVA Caribbean Healthcare System,
them and the community engagement and partnership coordinator.
I have been with the VA for two years
now and part of the work that I do is to connect with the community and the
base of that connection with the community is for suicide prevention and we
(02:01):
have been we have had the opportunity to for the last almost last year to start
connections with the USVI.
As part of the scope of service that we do at the VA Caribbean,
that is Puerto Rico and USVI veterans.
So prior to that, I worked on the local PR department of health with rape victims
(02:25):
and community organizations.
So that's my background, at least for prior to attend and to start working with the VA. Okay.
Before we go into a little bit
more detail on the collaborative group that you're trying to put together.
Tell us a little bit more, because about the divisions within the federal,
(02:49):
the Veterans Administration.
So it is important to clarify that the Department of Veterans Affairs actually
have three administrations.
That's the Benefit Administration that we call BBA, the Healthcare Administration
that I work for, and the Cemetery Administration.
So, there are three sister administrations under the same department,
(03:12):
and one to another depends on eligibility and stuff to get the services.
So, when we talk about health care administration, they are divided through
regional or what we call VISN, Veteran Integrated Service.
Risk and part of the importance
is that it has all the medical services
(03:34):
the mental health services among other
stuff all under the health care system and the
program that I represent that is suicide prevention have multiple
divisions and that the specific division under the program of suicide prevention
that every facility from the healthcare system has one that covers all the covers
(03:58):
of that facility also have some initiative.
And one of that initiative is the one that I'm the world one,
the Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator that at the same time responds
to community-based interventions for suicide prevention under the suicide prevention office.
(04:20):
What we call VAC, that is the main administration office in Washington, D.C.
So that's kind of a little bit of how we structure at least for suicide prevention,
because that's kind of the same thing that happens for the medical part and other areas.
And suicide prevention is under mental health.
(04:45):
So that's at the same time, even though it's under mental health,
Both at the end, everyone in the healthcare system and everyone in the Department
of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs,
need to do suicide prevention because it's the one clinical priority for the
whole Department of Veterans Affairs.
So that's who we are in this role.
(05:09):
My job is to get the spread of the word, that importance of everyone getting
involved in the suicide prevention initiative and awareness.
To do some initiative between and within the community and where the community is at.
So that's me and that's the program that I work with.
(05:32):
You mentioned that...
Even your area of expertise or your area of concern is suicide and prevention,
but it also encompasses all the other medical components.
Can you just go into that a little bit? Because the idea about having you come
by is not just to talk about suicide prevention, which is important,
(05:55):
but it can lead to other service areas for veterans on the island.
Because I know it's difficult for a lot of veterans to get services,
even when they go to Puerto Rico. Yeah.
So part of the public health approach that it's working through this program
is to identify those service member veterans and to see what is in the community and what is not.
(06:23):
What we have as VA and what we don't have and how we can help with that gap
with the community itself.
Self and to get the resources, the information, the educational materials,
and to put the power within the community to start also doing job with them.
Public health approach at the end is to recognize what are the needs of the people.
(06:48):
And when we respond to the needs of the people, we actually do suicide prevention.
Why? Because if I have someone that doesn't have the medical clinical care appropriately,
probably having situation with the medical part.
And let's say chronic pain, let's say PTSD, let's say chronic diseases.
(07:11):
And a person, for example, is not working or not covering that need,
at the end, probably is going to have risk factors.
And those risk factors can develop or can impulse some suicidal ideation.
And that's why we look at it as a public health approach.
(07:33):
Because at the end, we don't necessarily need to say, ah, we are doing suicide prevention work.
No, we are responding to the needs of the veteran and try to have them the best
care that they need or that they deserve.
There's some lag and some gaps, reality within the system.
And that's why it's important to see, okay, if we don't have it,
(07:56):
what is out there in the community that probably could help that person?
And we like to get on board the family members as well, because part of the
importance is the support systems.
And some of our veterans have a lot of support systems, but others don't have.
(08:19):
And that also can be a risk factor. And again, that's public health approach,
because we get involved with everyone.
One. So that's why we cannot see the suicide prevention as a solo part.
We need to see suicide prevention when we respond to the needs of a person,
(08:39):
when we connect that person with the services that are required and that they need at that moment.
And also understand that not everything is going to be resolved,
but what we can do as a community together, all the components,
to get that risk factors as low as possible.
(09:00):
Thank you for mentioning that. I know that folks out there listening might want
to know, well, is this tied into any kind of funding sources so that the local community can tap into?
You want to expand a little bit on that? Yeah, so the program does not come from federal funding.
We can do as a CPC, Committee Engagement and Partnership Coordinator.
(09:25):
Is to, if an organization or coalition identify a possible fund or some fund
is identified there that probably the coalition can be benefited,
we can collaborate with information and the coalition decides to get that fund.
Then we have to also as federal
employee we have to step aside for that
(09:47):
process but for example if they need data from
the VA well how many veterans there are how many services are getting or not
getting that's part of the collaboration process within the coalition that we
can do but at this moment there are some fundings out there but not the CBISP
community-based intervention for
(10:08):
suicide prevention itself, comes with money.
And we know that that can be challenging for the community work.
And that's kind of how we can manage and see how we can manage to do something
that doesn't require a lot of money expenses,
but that voluntary service and that initiative to create and to develop the
(10:34):
organizations to work And to add the work of helping the veterans within the
already services that they have,
not necessarily create new services.
So that's the spectrum under the position.
And at the end is get that strength to the community to act and come together to work.
(10:55):
What we have, what we can do with what we have. Okay.
I know that you have two groups already established in Puerto Rico,
one in urban and one in rural areas.
Yeah. We don't have that dynamic in the VI, so it's a little bit unique.
Can you explain now, since you've been here, what are your first steps and what
(11:18):
have you done in terms of getting that coalition built up?
Well, part of the CBISP is that they will try to approach this model of the
three priorities through different levels.
So we have been working with what we call state level or territory level initiatives
(11:39):
that we have the opportunity to host on December 2033, a mental health summit in St.
Croix. And recently, in May, we had the opportunity to connect and create a
mental health summit in St. John.
And from those two mental health summits, I had the opportunity to connect with local organizations.
And the idea that I started doing in January from this year is to start giving
(12:06):
that follow-up with those organizations and get them to know me.
And obviously, I get to get me to know what the organizations are doing within VI and what, if so,
something I'm willing or want to connect with the veterans in the community
and explain the idea, their priorities,
(12:28):
do you see yourself working with this?
After various meetings, we got multiple organizations to join and to create
a committee that is going to be developed on our community coalition.
Because my work could be in two ways.
Create coalitions from scratch, like we are building one in St.
(12:52):
Croix right now. Or join 16 coalitions.
And the approach of joining coalition was the first that I thought that was
going to help because there's already an organization working in the community.
But at the end, the organization wanted to collaborate together,
to do something together, because everyone can bring something to the table.
My role within this group is get them together, be a subject matter expert to
(13:18):
planning, to creating needs assessments,
let's say create an actual action plan to do goals, objectives, time frames.
That's my role within the coalition. and bring their expertise on suicide prevention.
That's what we are doing. Actually, right now in August, we are doing a meeting. We did a meeting.
(13:43):
And hopefully in the next couple of months, we are going to be doing some actions
within the community of St. Croix as St.
Croix, because as Angus shared with you, the public, St.
Croix is an island, and we don't have that division and that difference.
And that is the importance of a role like mine to be and to meet the community
(14:09):
where the community is at.
I'm not here to impose anything or the VA is not to impose how to do the stuff, but how...
Do you think the organizations in the community can do this stuff?
Okay, so I joined that effort.
And I joined with my knowledge.
Okay, if we want to do health fairs, for example, how we can do it to manage
(14:34):
and to connect and to reach out to the veterans that are not connected.
Because that's where this is coming from.
There's a lot of veterans that are not connected to the VA.
Either they are not eligible or that's
another whole topic with the eligibility or they
decide to not be connected with the VA and that's okay but
(14:55):
the statistic nationally not necessarily the
VA wants the VI wants is that
the most people or the most veterans are
dying by suicide because of the health
needs and stuff are the ones are not connected
with the VA so how, I can reach them how can
I work with them how I can connect them with the
(15:16):
VA or without or with the community resources so that's
the base from where this this is
coming we need to reach out to those veterans are
not connected we need to reach out to those veterans that are.
Probably isolated in their houses and what
a best way to actually connect that
(15:37):
with those veterans with your neighbors
with your family members and with
the community itself at the end we
are not everywhere we don't
have people everywhere but there are
people everywhere so if we get
everyone to have the knowledge of the basic knowledge of how I can help someone
(16:01):
in needs then we have a community ready for crisis management so at
least we connect them to the to provide services that's kind of
the whole thing of the whole.
Work that we are trying to do right now in St. Croix. And hopefully we get some outcomes.
We know that the community works doesn't have results immediate.
(16:25):
We know that the community works takes time.
And me not being from the VA, it's also another step that we have to work with.
So I encourage everyone to get to know me.
And we are neighbors. We are Caribbean Islanders.
(16:47):
And the idea is to get together and save lives. Thank you for that.
You mentioned St. Croix a lot, but you are duplicating this on St.
Thomas as well. That's the idea. Okay.
The other question I had was, with all of this collaboration thing in place,
you mentioned groups, family members.
(17:09):
How does somebody get involved if they want to get involved in this coalition?
Well, at this moment, one of the invitations that I have is to start looking
if there's already assistance strategies in their communities.
Start asking, how can I help someone that is alone?
How can I connect with someone? Is my neighbor a veteran?
(17:33):
Is my neighbor a service is my coworker a veteran?
I never asked them. Start breaking the idea that we are not available or we
cannot ask a simple question that's, have you ever served?
And that simple question can bring you a lot of information.
(17:56):
So at this moment, we are in the process of building that coalition.
So probably we're going to be doing some stuff on the next month so be there
pending if what's going to happen on St. Croix but you don't have to wait until
the coalition actually is working to start.
Connecting with people and to make sure that if you see someone that is at risk,
(18:22):
help them and connect them with the right services.
I mean, at the end of the time, it's like a campaign that the VA has. Don't wait, reach out.
Well, the same thing I say to the people. Don't wait until something is happening
and reach out to the veteran that probably is in need.
You can be a change for that person. I want to go back to what you said about
(18:47):
having the differences in culture and the differences in how the islands are set up.
For us, though, coming here, what have you witnessed as the hindrances or what
we can do differently since you've already done this in Puerto Rico to make
this coalition work and really establish it quickly.
(19:11):
Because it's really a need. I think that even though the culture is different,
what I have experienced is that the enthusiasm of doing something for the community,
it's kind of the same. Let me explain.
When I started to do this work two years ago, I had the opportunity to meet
(19:34):
with other organizations that are already working.
But they're working in their silos.
I mean, like in their solo, in their silos. And they're not communicating with themselves.
So I have been seeing that this is happening as well here.
But the response of acting or to start doing from the community,
(19:56):
it has been faster from Puerto Rico.
And that's something very interesting. thing i have so
for some organizations and from one of the coalitions
that I'm working in with a survey in Puerto
Rico we ended up finishing the survey after a year starting to work for
example because of the calendar too many things happening on the same time etc
(20:19):
and the first time that I was here in San Cruz was on December 23 and we are
talking less than a year that we already have a committee.
That says something. That says that community wants to work.
Organization wants to work together.
And the sense of community itself is being very humble for me to see in the USVI.
(20:43):
So that's something that I take up on really, really serious and feel very humble
to be welcome as I have been.
I mean, because I have been felt very welcome in the USVI and that's good too.
Okay, how, what's, after you form the coalition and you have the groups together,
(21:05):
and you say you could lend your expertise and your support to it.
How often would you come back? How do you keep the momentum of keeping groups together?
Because I can tell you it's very difficult to do, to get people to come out.
Because this is all a labor of love, really. Nobody's getting paid to do this.
But I like the idea about having all these integrated services within these
(21:31):
groups so that you can provide a central hub, basically, for services to veterans.
So how are you how you're going to be able
to keep that I mean you have the experience in Puerto Rico
certainly, tell us how
how we can prosper in
in that regard. Yeah, the idea is to do
(21:51):
in this phase start to do regular
meetings so we have been having some middle individuals, so we had to figure
it out in that action plan to make sure that we do regular meetings to get the
job done and identify realistic goals and identify realistic people that is going to do the job.
(22:12):
And my plan, I'm assigned to work with the USVI.
I'm assigned to work as a CPC for the USVI.
So, I have funding to travel. That's a good thing because that means that I can
plan to at least every other month to come to the St.
Croix, but that doesn't mean, or St. Thomas, but
(22:33):
that doesn't me that between those months we are
not going to be meeting right we have the opportunity to keep doing the
virtual job and we can keep going and be
in person to then the follow-ups so that's going
to be like kind of a hybrid work and since
from the beginning we need to think about sustainability that if
(22:54):
tomorrow I'm not here tomorrow, I leave the position
let's say or the politician is another
person that the group's still there that the
group has so much great milestones and the great efforts that it can keep
going with or without someone not necessarily me not me only let's say someone
(23:14):
from the group left also but the group keeps so that's the idea how we're going
to do it we're in the building of it.
Let's make sure I mean at least I'm going to make
sure, that I'm going to be here at least every other
month or let's see how it happens with the
new fiscal year but how it's going to be the currency but
that's going to be there that's going to be there how can somebody wants
(23:38):
to get involved how do they go about doing that so your contact or when the
local group is established how is anybody going to know get all that information
well at this moment everyone Anyone can contact me through my email or my cell phone.
My cell phone is 939-649-1813.
(23:59):
My email is more long. So, if you get the number, let me say it again, 939-649-1813.
That's my working phone. That's going to be available if you are interested.
If you have if I gave you that
seed in your mind that I
want to see what it's going to be doing in St. Croix give
(24:22):
me a call and definitely I want to add
you to the group that we already are working with
and anyone can join also you
want to give us the suicide hotline number too yeah so
September is the suicide prevention awareness month so
let's we need to get the spread the word out
there the 988 is the lifeline for
(24:45):
everyone but if you press the option one that's
the veteran crisis line and we can connect that
veteran with the service needs that's something that
we do follow up those consults that receive that's mental health crisis and
mental health needs lifelines and please remember that suicide prevention awareness
(25:07):
is everybody's business and suicide prevention, it is preventable.
Thank you so much, Caribel, for coming out. I really appreciate a lot of information.
This program is going to be on our website, drcvi.org.
You can go in there and listen to it when it's aired.
(25:28):
If you want to hear it again for the information, you can visit our website.
I want to thank you for coming out. Appreciate it. All the way from Puerto Rico.
No, thank you for having me. Caribel, thank you. Yeah, thank you for coming
out. Angus Drigo signing off for Ability Radio.
You can reach us, 772-1200, 340 that is, and 340-776-4303 on St.
(25:50):
Thomas. Thank you for listening.
The views expressed on this program are not necessarily those of WTJX,
its board, staff, or underwriters.
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