HOLYOKE, Mass (WWLP) - Senator Elizabeth Warren was joined by State Senator John Velis and Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia along with other lawmakers and organizations to discuss the veteran suicide crisis and what they can work to do to help. The veteran suicide rate is higher compared to the general population… An average of 17.5 veterans take their lives each day across the nation and demographically, these rates are higher for women veterans. While Senator Warren is a part of the U.S. Senate's Armed Forces Committee and State Senator Velis is the chair of Veteran and Federal Affairs, lawmakers today are not only working to make change on the federal and state levels but also at the local levels. "Like you've heard from Senator Warren, services help save lives and we want to make sure that the folks out there in our community know what's available to them and those are just the small things we can do from a local government standpoint, not just in Holyoke, but any other of the 351 cities and towns across the Commonwealth to close those disparity gaps," said Mayor of Holyoke, Joshua Garcia. Senator Warren said the number one step she is going to take back to Washington is they need more resources so they can do more outreach. She said the more veterans they are able to reach, the more lives they can save. Senator Warren said they have learned these services do help and can save lives, helping with the suicide crisis. Local News Headlines Minor injuries reported in three-car collision in Springfield Sen. Warren urges action on gun trafficking in Springfield Massachusetts Senate suspends their rules Voting measures for incarcerated people WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.