BOSTON — Hundreds of troops, veterans and caregivers are gathering in Boston this week for a conference on preventing military suicides.
The gathering is sponsored by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It focuses on the role of community programs to help active-duty, Reserve and National Guard troops and veterans who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.
Participants are examining peer support services including self-help groups, online forums and social media to assist troubled veterans.
The conference runs through Thursday at the Hynes Convention Center. It's designed to share practical tools and clinical practices to support veterans and their families.
Besides service members and veterans, the conference is for social workers, counselors, researchers, physicians, clinicians and federal and other agencies.
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