A Cherokee County woman was appointed the new lead for a national effort to stop suicides among military veterans.
Blue Star Families, described as the largest nonprofit dedicated to military families in the United States, said Kali Hoffman, of Cherokee County, will lead their new campaign.
According to the nonprofit’s release, Hoffman is a military spouse, worked in frontline emergency response during the COVID-19 pandemic, and introduced the “Combat the Silence” campaign to Blue Star Families.
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The Combat the Silence campaign is funded through the Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant , a Georgia-based VA program.
In 2022, SSG Fox SPGP was awarded almost $250,000 from the VA to support the mission of preventing veteran suicide in the state of Georgia.
“Behind every life lost to suicide is an entire community in mourning. Data tells us that for every person who dies by suicide, approximately 135 people are exposed and may need mental health support,” Hoffman said in a statement. “This campaign is not just about prevention; it’s about creating a supportive community that understands and actively addresses the unique mental health challenges faced by our military families.”