2019-20 Impact Report

SOLVING THE PROBLEM WITH ACTION

Service members and veterans are at 50% higher risk of suicide than their peers who haven't served. There's no better indicator of the fight we're in right now.

Making it right takes action, not talk. That's what our last 18 months have been about.

1,600+

Clients served since the start of 2019

3.9/4

Average stress level indicated by clients on intake

25%

Average reduction in suicide risk within a client's first 30 days

24%

Average reduction in self hate within a client's first 30 days

You play a critical role in our mission.

Every donation we receive helps empower service members, veterans and their families with critical resources and support.

When you donate to Stop Soldier Suicide, you join a team of veteran lifesavers, standing side-by-side in the fight to solve the military suicide crisis. You join a team of citizens committed to supporting service members and veterans who have fought for us.

The impact you make by donating today, means hope for those facing the hardest crossroads of their life.

To you, like us, this is personal. And you won't stand idly by while our heroes are in crisis.

From Chris Ford, Our CEO

Growth is the engine that drives an organization forward. Change is the spark that gets the engine revving.

That’s the story of Stop Soldier Suicide over the last 18 months: change-fueled growth.

In the last year-plus, we’ve professionalized our organization, investing in human capital, technology and innovation that drives our quest to provide world-class suicide intervention programs to service members and veterans.

In short, it’s been a dizzying and gratifying 18 months. To think of how far we’ve come as an organization is great, but to see the results we’ve driven is even better.

We’re not done, and we’re certainly not content. Far from it. We recently rolled out our promise for the next 10 years: to reduce the military suicide rate by 40% by 2030.

Notice that I said it’s a promise, not a hope. The upcoming year is huge for us as we validate our model, and begin to scale it to the level needed to make that promise a reality.

With deep gratitude,
Chris Ford
20-year veteran, United States Air Force

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Moving as efficiently and aggressively as needed to save lives takes investment.

It takes commitment to investing in exceptionally talented professionals, groundbreaking methodology, cutting-edge technology and laser-focused marketing.

87%

Year-over-year increase in program expenditure

$130K+

Investment in experts to refine service model

218%

Year-over-year increase in programmatic advertising & education investment

$57K

Investment in new technologies and technology enhancements

OUR PLAN

Military suicide is an epidemic of shocking proportions. Time and money are not leading to results. Current systems don’t work.

Chief reasons for this national failure include:

Poor data that prevents agencies from identifying and prioritizing high-risk service members and veterans.
A lack of focus in trying to equally serve all 20-plus million service members and veterans, when less than 7,000 are dying by suicide each year.
Ineffective services that are singular or episodic with excessive delays and multiple barriers.

We’re applying private-sector strategies to differentiate ourselves from similar organizations by doing something about the problem, rather than just talking about it.

Client discovery methodologies and enhanced intelligence give us insight into precursor behaviors leading to military suicide.

Hyper-focused marketing campaigns influence high-risk prospective clients and funnel them to us for support.

Best-in-class suicide risk assessment, intervention and safety planning spur clients to become the driving force in their own safety and long-term wellbeing.

Positive change maintenance helps achieve growth through self-monitored safety management, heightened empowerment, enhanced support networks, and a greater sense of purpose.

We wouldn't even be talking right now ...

A Marine Corps veteran who served his country for 10 years and three deployments, Kyle was in crisis the night he discovered Stop Soldier Suicide. He was, in his words, prepared to take his own life ...