Military & Veterans Suicide Prevention Subcommittee
The Military and Veterans Suicide Prevention Subcommittee’s mission is to promote emotional well-being within the greater military community and provide mental health education and suicide awareness.
Thank You to Our Planning Committee Members!
Anthony “Joey” Damiano • Jarrett Avena • Erin Exelby • Esther Hofknecht Curtis • Jenn Ford • Jaime Kazmarck • Jaclyn Tomasetti • Jenna Moffitt • Jennifer Smolowitz • Jessica Lewis • Joni Newby • Lauren Unrath • Lisa Smith • Meridith Johnson • Lindsey Huttie
Credit for Photos: Dream Art Studio
2025 Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit
The 15th Annual Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit was held on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, DE. This year’s theme was “Mission Resilience: Navigating Trauma.” Close to 300 people attended this sold-out, full-day summit, including vendors from various community organizations that focus on behavioral health and other support services for those in the SMVF (Service Members, Veterans and their Families) community.
The day kicked off with the Presentation of Colors which was led by Christiana High School’s Junior ROTC Color Guard. The following people provided opening remarks: Major General James A. Boston (The Adjutant General, Delaware), Dr. Rick Hong (Wilmington VAMC Chief of Staff), State Representative William J. Carson and Brian DiSabatino (CEO of EDiS Company and Founder of Vet Fest). Our Keynote Address was delivered by Chief Warrant Officer Michael Tapp, US Coast Guard, Retired.
Presentations included: Stories from Veterans, Mindful Movement (T’ai Chi Chih) & Breath (Sky Breath), Navigating Moral Injury & Cultivating Resiliency in the Military and Veteran Community, VA Services for Individuals who Experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST), An overview of Wounded Warrior Project and the Warrior Care Network, Panel: Practical Strategies for Engaging Veterans, The Impact of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) on Veterans: Understanding the Consequences and Pathways to Healing, Resilience – Life After Service, and a fireside chat with the team from Project Refit.
This year’s recipient of the Kent Johnson Memorial Award was Freddy Lee Allen, Jr. To help the community, summit participants a car full of items to the Food Bank of Delaware.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Thank you to our sponsors!
Thank you to our sponsors for making the 2025 Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit possible!
Wawa Foundation (POW/MIA Sponsor) • Rockford Center (Keynote Sponsor/Annual Sponsor) • Acadia (Bravery Sponsor) • VA Medical Center (Service Sponsor) • Dover Behavioral Health (Air Force Sponsor) • SUN Behavioral Health (Army Sponsor) • Humana Military (Coffee/Beverage Sponsor) • Banyan Treatment Centers (Lunch Sponsor) • Wounded Warrior Project (Purple Heart Sponsor) • MeadowWood (Gratitude Sponsor/Annual Sponsor) • NET Centers (Presentation Sponsor) • DE Council on Gambling (Registration Sponsor) • Sanare Today (Registration Sponsor) • atTAcK Addiction (Registration Sponsor) • Recovery Village at Cherry Hill (Scholarship Sponsor) • Wilmington University Partnerships & Community Affairs (Scholarship Sponsor) • Newport Academy (Registration Sponsor) • Delaware Relay (Scholarship Sponsor) • Charlie Health (Registration Sponsor)
2024 Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit
The 14th Annual Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit was held on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at the Riverfront Events Center in Wilmington, DE. This year’s theme was “Unraveling the Web of Homelessness.” Close to 200 people attended this full-day summit, including vendors from various community organizations that focus on behavioral health and other support services for those in the SMVF (Service Members, Veterans and their Families) community. The day kicked off with the Presentation of Colors which was led by cadets from the Delaware Military Academy. Major General Michael R. Berry from the Delaware Army National Guard and Vamsee Potluri, Director of the Wilmington VA Medical Center, provided opening remarks. Presentations included: VA Resources to End Homelessness, T’AI CHI CHIH, the Veterans Justice Program, Forming Partnerships to Move Veterans out of Homelessness, and an overview of the Delaware Center for Homeless Veterans. In an effort to help the community, summit participants donated two grocery carts full of items to the Food Bank of Delaware.
2023 Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit
On Tuesday, September 12th, 2023, the annual Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit was held at the Riverfront Events Center in Wilmington, DE. Over 150 veterans, providers and community members gathered to learn more about substance use and its impact on the military community. Dr. Jessica Martin from the Oklahoma City VA delivered the keynote address titled “SUD Treatment Implications amongst Veteran Populations with Co-Occurring Disorders”. Chaplain Van Alstyne; Anthony “Joey” Damiano, LCSW, CPRP; Dr. Dan Lache; and Michael Skiles discussed during the “Maintaining Hope Through Treatment” panel session, in which they explored a holistic approach to substance use recovery. And lastly, Michael Skiles gave the “Hear from a Veteran” presentation.
2022 Military & Veterans Suicide Prevention Conference
On Wednesday, September 7th, 2022, the Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition’s Military Subcommittee hosted the 2022 Military & Veterans Suicide Prevention Conference. The conference was held at the Delaware National Guard training site in Bethany Beach, Delaware. The Adjutant General, Major General Michael R. Berry, and Vince Kane of the Wilmington VAMC provided opening remarks. The half-day conference covered topics such as: Suicide Prevention 2.0 (VA updates on suicide prevention), the Governor’s Challenge, 988, and the VA’s suicide prevention training – S.A.V.E. Thank you to our presenters Jaclyn Tomasetti, Matthew Jacobs and Dr. Claire Wang. Jessica Lewis led the group in a Tai Chi demonstration.
2020 Military & Veterans
Mental Health Summit
In 2020, the Military and Veterans Mental Health Summit was held virtually from August 31st to September 4th, 2020. The summit kicked off with opening remarks from Vincent Kane, the Director of the Wilmington VAMC; Dr. Larence Kirby, LPCMH, the Director of the Delaware Office of Veteran Services; Col. Shanon Anderson, the Vice Wing Commander at the Dover Air Force Base; and Bethany Hall-Long, the Lieutenant Governor. Then, Dr. Larence Kirby, LPCMH delivered the keynote titled “Veterans Perceptions of Behavioral Health Services”. Following the keynote were four presentations: Michael Selby’s “Virtual Resources and Telehealth”; Nancy McGee & Lauren Unrath’s "Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and the Crisis Hotline”; Susana Cebula’s “Personal Self-Care”; and Dr. Craig W. Gilbert’s “Cognitive Approach to Resiliency”.