FORT LEE, Va. — In support of the annual Suicide Prevention Month campaign, senior leaders from across the installation gathered at the Main Exchange Sept. 1 for a Kick-Off Resilience Resource Fair and Proclamation Signing.
Distinguished guests included Brig. Gen. Ronnie D. Anderson Jr., deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command; Fort Lee Garrison Commander Col. Stacy L. King and Command Sgt. Maj. Melisha K. Wilson, Fort Lee command sergeant major.
“It is critically important that we take suicide awareness and prevention very, very seriously,” Anderson said. “But more importantly, that we pour ourselves into the efforts that go to making the connections that help all of our teammates in order to prevent suicide.”
The 2026 campaign theme, “Joining Your Fight: Connect to Protect,” calls on the greater military community to focus on early detection, strengthen cohesion and empower leaders to safeguard the total force. It encourages service members to seek help, reduce stigma around mental health, advocate for lethal means safety, and increase awareness and use of resources for suicide prevention.
“The significance of this proclamation signing represents an external display of the leader's own pledge [to]...the motto ‘Be There,’” said Tiera D. Washington, Fort Lee Suicide Prevention Program coordinator. “This is an annual event to show leaders solidarity to combat suicide, promote health-seeking and connections, and to illustrate that we are stronger together.”
Fort Lee community members visited with on and off-post organizations’ resource tables and participated in fun activities, including ‘Chalk the Walk,’ an initiative to promote awareness through inspiring sidewalk chalk art.
Throughout September, Fort Lee community members are welcome to snap a photo and share for weekly voting and prizes. For more details, check out the Fort Lee Facebook page or contact tiera.d.washington.civ@army.mil.
Child and Youth Services will host a ‘Teen Talk’ Sept. 8. 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Youth Center. The Kenner Mental Health Resilience ‘Lunch and Learn’ takes place Sept. 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and all military and War Department civilians can join on MS Teams. The CYS Worldwide Day of Play is Sept. 26, noon. to 3 p.m., at Williams Stadium, featuring a health fair promoting physical activity.
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