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November 11, 2021

Why Veterans Need More Than Veterans Day

City Cast Chicago

Why Veterans Need More Than Veterans Day

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The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs told state lawmakers this week they need more staff and better access to housing and healthcare. The numbers back up the critical need to take care of veterans. The rate of suicides among veterans is nearly double that of the civilian population, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. But Northwestern University professor Michelle Shumate says mental health treatment and suicide hotlines aren’t enough to help veterans as they transition to civilian life. Shumate has been researching how organizations that help with housing, food, and jobs can contribute to better mental health for veterans. She shares what she hears from veterans about what they need.


Guest: Michelle Shumate —Delaney Family University Research Professor, Northwestern University


Chicago Veterans Day Events:

The city is hosting a ceremony at Soldier Field at 11 a.m.

Auditorium Theatre is hosting tours for veterans and their families from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.


Vax Info for CPS Families:

CPS

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