New York State Assemblyman Joe DeStefano joined state and local officials and veteran advocates at the New York State Capitol for a bipartisan press conference highlighting veteran mental health and suicide prevention, an issue speakers described as an urgent and ongoing crisis across New York.
The event, held on the second floor of the Capitol’s Million Dollar Staircase, focused on rising suicide rates among veterans, the need for early intervention and improved access to care, and the role of the state Legislature in strengthening support systems for those who served.
DeStefano, a Republican and Conservative representing Medford, said the crisis affects communities statewide and requires more than public awareness. He stressed that veterans and their families continue to face mental health challenges that too often go unaddressed.
“Veteran suicide is not an abstract issue; it is a real and ongoing crisis impacting families and communities in every corner of our state,” DeStefano said. “While awareness has increased, the data shows that awareness alone is not enough.”
Speakers cited data showing veterans die by suicide at significantly higher rates than the general population, with younger veterans facing particularly elevated risks. Advocates emphasized the importance of early intervention, peer support and community-based programs that can identify warning signs and connect veterans with help before a crisis escalates.
DeStefano reiterated his support for bipartisan legislation to expand mental health resources for veterans, strengthen peer support networks and ensure veterans’ service organizations have the infrastructure needed to provide care.
“We owe our veterans more than gratitude; we owe them action,” he said, calling for mental health services that are accessible, adequately funded and free from stigma.