Keiser University on Tuesday joined a roundtable event to discuss the status of female veterans alongside Republican leaders Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, and state Sen. Jay Collins.
Headed up by Belinda Keiser and the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, the roundtable hit on issues affecting veterans, specifically female veterans as the fastest-growing group in the veteran population, including mental health.
"It's ok to not be ok," said Sen. Collins, a former Green Beret, pointing out that veterans have a 72% higher risk of suicide compared to those who have not served. Specifically, women who have served face a 166% higher suicide rate compared to non-veteran U.S. women, according to the Department of Veteran Affairs.
According to a new DAV report, suicide rates among female veterans jumped 24% between 2020 and 2021—nearly four times higher than the 6.3% increase among male veterans.
"More than anything else, you need people to just come up and say, 'Hey, you seem a little off,'" Collins continued. "Those small human moments, they change everything. That's how we save lives.
"That's why panels like this and states like ours are so vital," he added.
Keiser University is a pro-veteran, pro-medical health private university based out of Fort Lauderdale. Founded by CEO Art Keiser, the school is part of the Yellow Ribbon Program, an initiative founded post-9/11 to help the families of National Guard and Reserve members by connecting them with various resources or even paying for portions of college tuition.
"We are proud to be the most military and veteran-friendly state in the country," said Nuñez, noting that Gov. Ron DeSantis Tuesday morning announced that 176 schools and 5 districts earned the Purple Star School of Distinction designation for support of military veterans.
"We see so many veterans come to Florida because of our resources, because of our services, and also because of our commitment to the veteran population."
