The Resilient Veteran

"Talk. They Hear You."® Resource for Military Families
2024-04-18 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
“Talk. They Hear You.”® Resource for Military Families
Date: April 18, 2024Time: 2:00–3:30 p.m. ET
Learning Objectives

Discuss ways to prevent underage drinking and other substance use among youth
Discover resources for parents, caregivers, community, partners, educators, and more about having informed conversations
Identify opportunities to empower the voices of military-affiliated youth

Presenter

Robert M. Vincent, M.S.Ed., Associate Administrator, Alcohol Prevention and Treatment Policy, Office of the Director, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Use Prevention

samRegister Online

Learn Mental Health First Aid in Kittanning, PA
2024-04-30 08:00 - 16:00
Learn Mental Health First Aid in Kittanning, PA
WHY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID?
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults.
The course will teach you how to apply the MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE):
• Assess for risk of suicide or harm.
• Listen nonjudgmentally.
• Give reassurance and information.
• Encourage appropriate professional help.
• Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
WHO NEEDS TO KNOW MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
• Employers.
• Police officers.
• Hospital staff.
• First responders.
• Caring individuals.
April 30, 2024 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: ACMH -Simulation Lab, Nolte Drive, Kittanning, PA 16201
Register now! Class limited to 16 participants. Register by emailing: ljohns@havinpa.org

Cultural Considerations in DBT
2024-05-08 14:00 - 16:00
Cultural Considerations in DBT
May 8, 2023 at 2 PM ET
Learn more and register online
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy recommended by the VA and Department of Defense (DoD) joint clinical practice guidelines for the treatment and management of suicidality to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD) and self-directed violence. DBT training has not yet been rolled out nationally to VA facilities, though VA mental health providers have identified it as a high priority for future training needs. Adaptations of DBT and other interventions to the culturally diverse needs of the patient population are known to improve treatment engagement and effectiveness. This webinar will review the existing literature on cultural considerations in DBT and provide clinical recommendations designed to improve clinician cultural competency and clinical outcomes in a diverse patient population.
Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

Identify the patient populations with whom DBT has been shown to be effective.
Describe the Biosocial Theory of BPD.
Describe the existing literature on cultural adaptations to DBT.
Recommend cultural adaptations to DBT implementation.

PRESENTER INFORMATION
Meredith Sears, Ph.D.

Meredith Sears, Ph.D., is a Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the San Francisco VA; a consultant for the national dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) training roll-out in VA’s Suicide Prevention 2.0 program; a Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco; and the president of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area chapter board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. From 2016 to 2023, Dr. Sears also served as the co-lead and training coordinator of the San Francisco VA DBT program.

INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
2024-05-10 13:00 - 14:00
INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
Suicide Prevention Training
The Integrating Trauma Informed Care into Suicide Response course will describe the role of trauma in both risk for suicide behaviors and in coping with suicide loss. It is a one-hour virtual training primarily designed for those who work with people at risk for suicide, such as health care providers and social service professionals.
The curriculum covers the role of trauma in suicide risk, the SAMHSA principles of trauma informed care, as well as specific trauma informed strategies to utilize with survivors of suicide.
Trainings are open to anyone and will be delivered virtually, via Zoom.
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention
Call: 878-208-8186
Email: pag109@pitt.edu
SIGN-UP TODAY!
https://tinyurl.com/4p6kamf7
Upcoming ITIC Training Sessions:
• Friday, May 10th , 2024 from 1:00-2:00 PM

QPR + CALM Training
2024-05-14 10:00 - 13:00, 2024-05-24 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-04 13:00 - 17:00
QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and warning signs that someone may be at risk of suicide.
This date also offers a 1-hour Counseling on Access to Lethal Means Training (CALM) directly after the QPR sessions. You can opt-in to one or both trainings.
Pennsylvania suicide rates, especially in rural counties, are higher than the national average. QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is an individual who can recognize a crisis and the warning signs of someone possibly contemplating suicide. Anyone can become a gatekeeper: parents. friends, neighbors, teachers, athletic coaches, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, etc. Gatekeepers come from all walks of life and do not require any prior training or education.
Click on the image to download. You can access the registration online. Please contact us if you experience challenges with registration.
We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming training session!

SAFE Project | SAFE Veterans
2024-05-16 14:00 - 15:30
SAFE Project | SAFE Veterans
Date: May 16, 2024Time: 2:00–3:30 p.m. ET
Learning Objectives

Discover workshops geared toward supporting military families and caregivers
Learn how the Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic (SAFE) Project is working with civilian and Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals to educate on opioids and discuss alternatives
Understand how the SAFE Project is working to promote wellness among those who serve and their family members

Presenters

Kelly Niedzwiecki, M.M.A.S., Senior Director of SAFE Veterans, SAFE Project
Leslie Plaia, M.Ed., Executive Director, Substance Use and Behavioral Health, SAFE Project

Register online

INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
2024-06-03 12:00 - 13:00
INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
Suicide Prevention Training
The Integrating Trauma Informed Care into Suicide Response course will describe the role of trauma in both risk for suicide behaviors and in coping with suicide loss. It is a one-hour virtual training primarily designed for those who work with people at risk for suicide, such as health care providers and social service professionals.
The curriculum covers the role of trauma in suicide risk, the SAMHSA principles of trauma informed care, as well as specific trauma informed strategies to utilize with survivors of suicide.
Trainings are open to anyone and will be delivered virtually, via Zoom.
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention
Call: 878-208-8186
Email: pag109@pitt.edu
SIGN-UP TODAY!
https://tinyurl.com/4p6kamf7
Upcoming ITIC Training Sessions:

Monday, June 3rd, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM
Friday, June 28th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM
Monday, July 8th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM
Friday, July 12th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM
Friday, August 16th, 2024 from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Monday, August 19th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM

QPR + CALM Training
2024-06-11 12:30 - 15:30
QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and warning signs that someone may be at risk of suicide.
This date also offers a 1-hour Counseling on Access to Lethal Means Training (CALM) directly after the QPR sessions. You can opt-in to one or both trainings.
CALM_flyer_Q22024-2 Pennsylvania suicide rates, especially in rural counties, are higher than the national average. QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is an individual who can recognize a crisis and the warning signs of someone possibly contemplating suicide. Anyone can become a gatekeeper: parents. friends, neighbors, teachers, athletic coaches, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, etc. Gatekeepers come from all walks of life and do not require any prior training or education.
Click on the image to download. You can access the registration online. Please contact us if you experience challenges with registration.
We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming training session!

Understanding the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
2024-06-18 12:00 - 13:30
Learn about the most widespread standardized suicide assessment tool, the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), a science-driven screening model to accurately assess suicidality, determine the risk level, and offer appropriate support.
Learn from the developer of the tool, Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber, Ph.D., clinical professor of medical psychology at Columbia University. She is the director of The Columbia Lighthouse Project, a nonprofit with a mission to teach the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) to therapists and clinicians. Dr. Posner will delve into the research behind the C-SSRS tool and offer practical insights on its implementation.
Join us on Zoom: Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 12:00–1:30 PM EDT/ 9:00–10:30 am PDT.
Register online
The seminar is free of charge. There is a CE credit processing fee of $30 for those seeking CE credit (see accreditation statement below).
This event is tailored to mental health professionals dedicated to suicide prevention and seeking to bolster their expertise in suicide risk assessment. Additionally, we extend our invitation to companies, organizations, and government entities committed to disseminating vital information on suicide prevention strategies.
Together, let us take proactive steps toward lowering the rates of suicide. We look forward to your participation in this informative workshop.

Conversations on the Past, Present, and Future: LGBTQIA+ in Service and Beyond
2024-06-27 18:00 - 20:00
Join PsychArmor Thursday June 27th at 6 PM ET for an engaging conversation on the past, present, and future of the LGBTQIA+ community in service and beyond. Moderated by Duane France, the host of PsychArmor’s “Behind the Mission” podcast, this event will feature exceptional panelists including Allison Jaslow, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Larry Hetu-Robert, Services Manager and Veteran Liaison, and Arrianna Auva’a, Programs, Grant and Media Certified Veterans Service Officer, who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Veterans, and subject matter experts. We are excited to present this webcast to a diverse audience of community members, allies, healthcare providers, and more. This initiative is driven by the Michigan Governor’s Challenge and is offered in partnership with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) and Humana.
Register online

INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
2024-06-28 12:00 - 13:00
INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
Suicide Prevention Training
The Integrating Trauma Informed Care into Suicide Response course will describe the role of trauma in both risk for suicide behaviors and in coping with suicide loss. It is a one-hour virtual training primarily designed for those who work with people at risk for suicide, such as health care providers and social service professionals.
The curriculum covers the role of trauma in suicide risk, the SAMHSA principles of trauma informed care, as well as specific trauma informed strategies to utilize with survivors of suicide.
Trainings are open to anyone and will be delivered virtually, via Zoom.
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention
Call: 878-208-8186
Email: pag109@pitt.edu
SIGN-UP TODAY!
https://tinyurl.com/4p6kamf7
Upcoming ITIC Training Sessions:

Friday, June 28th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM
Monday, July 8th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM
Friday, July 12th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM
Friday, August 16th, 2024 from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Monday, August 19th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM

INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
2024-07-08 12:00 - 13:00
INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
Suicide Prevention Training
The Integrating Trauma Informed Care into Suicide Response course will describe the role of trauma in both risk for suicide behaviors and in coping with suicide loss. It is a one-hour virtual training primarily designed for those who work with people at risk for suicide, such as health care providers and social service professionals.
The curriculum covers the role of trauma in suicide risk, the SAMHSA principles of trauma informed care, as well as specific trauma informed strategies to utilize with survivors of suicide.
Trainings are open to anyone and will be delivered virtually, via Zoom.
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention
Call: 878-208-8186
Email: pag109@pitt.edu
SIGN-UP TODAY!
https://tinyurl.com/4p6kamf7
Upcoming ITIC Training Sessions:

Monday, July 8th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM
Friday, July 12th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM
Friday, August 16th, 2024 from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Monday, August 19th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM

Suicide Prevention: The Impact of Peer Support
2024-07-10 14:00 - 16:00
Suicide Prevention: The Impact of Peer Support
July 10, 2024 • 2:00pm ET
The structure of peer support and its impact within the suicide prevention team can influence positive outcomes in the Veteran population, many of whom are high-risk. Crystal Tabor, Lead Peer Specialist, will share the duties/role of peer support specific to the suicide prevention team and methods utilized to assist Veterans with engagement in care, community inclusion, and outreach efforts.
Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

Describe the role and structure of peer support in suicide prevention.
Discuss the benefits of peer support and its impact on the suicide prevention team
Review peer support methods utilized to assist Veterans with treatment engagement.

PRESENTER INFORMATION
Crystal Tabor, Lead Peer Specialist
Crystal Tabor is a Lead Peer Specialist who mentors a team of 12 peers at Eastern Colorado VA Health Care System. A Post-911 Veteran who served first as a PATRIOT missile crewmember and then as a combat medic in the U.S. Army, Crystal uses her lived experience to also provide direct care to Veterans both on the Suicide Prevention Team and on the Golden CBOC Mental Health Clinic Team. Crystal has worked for the VA for 16 years, starting in Austin, Texas, and now at Eastern Colorado, where she plans to continue her career for the foreseeable future.
This course is jointly offered by the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the Veterans Health Administration Employee Education System. Please forward this note to other VHA employees who might also be interested in this learning opportunity.

INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
2024-07-12 12:00 - 13:00
INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
Suicide Prevention Training
The Integrating Trauma Informed Care into Suicide Response course will describe the role of trauma in both risk for suicide behaviors and in coping with suicide loss. It is a one-hour virtual training primarily designed for those who work with people at risk for suicide, such as health care providers and social service professionals.
The curriculum covers the role of trauma in suicide risk, the SAMHSA principles of trauma informed care, as well as specific trauma informed strategies to utilize with survivors of suicide.
Trainings are open to anyone and will be delivered virtually, via Zoom.
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention
Call: 878-208-8186
Email: pag109@pitt.edu
SIGN-UP TODAY!
https://tinyurl.com/4p6kamf7
Upcoming ITIC Training Sessions:

Friday, July 12th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM
Friday, August 16th, 2024 from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Monday, August 19th, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 PM

Safety Resources and Skills for Staff who Provide Clinical Related Care in the Community
2024-07-16 15:00 - 16:00
Safety Resources and Skills for Staff who Provide Clinical Related Care in the Community
Wednesday, July 16, 2024: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST
Presented by VA’s Homeless Programs Office, National Center on Homelessness among Veterans, in collaboration with VHA’s Institute for Learning, Education and Development (ILEAD)
Add webinar to your calendar
Presenters:

Dina Hooshyar, MD, MPH, Director, National Center on Homelessness among Veterans, Veterans Affairs Homeless Programs Office

Bridget Truman, PhD, Associate Director, Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior, WVPP, OMHSP Asheville, NC

Michal Wilson, MD, Senior Medical Advisor, Veterans Affairs Homeless Programs Office

Audience: Multidisciplinary staff serving Veterans at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness. Participants may include but are not limited to physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, counselors, case managers, housing specialists, peer specialists, occupational therapists, team leaders, supervisors, addiction specialists, and Network Homeless Coordinators.
Modality: Virtual conference (webinar)
Credit/hours: 1
Accreditations: ACCME, ACCME-NP, ANCC, AOTA, APA, ASWB, NBCC, ADA, NYSED, SW, CRCC
Overview:
Providing clinical related services to Veterans in the community as opposed to the hospital or clinic environment has its unique staff safety related situations. The purpose of this webinar is to provide education about mitigating and managing these situations. The goal of this training is to review local workplace violence prevention resources and how to leverage these resources to enhance safety for services delivered in a community setting.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this educational session, learners will be able to:

Describe the mission and role of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers’ Disruptive Behavior Committee, including its membership and their roles.
Explain the purpose of VA’s Disruptive Behavior Reporting System (DBRS), how to access and use it, and how information that is entered into DBRS is utilized to address safety concerns.
Identify VA’s mandated trainings for VA staff who provide services in the community.
Describe safety skills for staff who provide clinical related care in the community.

Registration: To receive credit for attending, VA employees need to register in TMS before the training begins:
To find a course when logging into TMS:
Go to Learning, scroll down to My Learning, type in Course # and Title
VA TMS 131012729/ BIS 20930.53768 Safety Resources and Skills for Staff who Provide Clinical Related Care in the Community
Be sure to click Register Now rather than Assign to Me or Start Course
If you are external to the VA or Non VA staff you must have a registered TRAIN account AND register for todays training in TRAIN PRIOR to commencing training, failure to do so will result in CEUs not being awarded.
If you do not have a TRAIN account please click the link: https://vha.train.org.
VA staff register here
Non-VA staff Register here
For questions with TMS/TRAIN registration, please contact clarice.lewis@va.gov or lee.furry@va.gov
For audio, please use computer and connect audio through the TEAMS speakers
For more information on education opportunities, please email Derrick Crowley, Management Analyst, Derrick.crowley@va.gov
The National Center on Homelessness among Veterans promotes the development of policy and practice that targets ending and preventing Veteran homelessness through supporting the implementation of relevant research findings into clinical practice, providing education and training for VA and community partners, disseminating evidence-based and emerging best practices and developing new empirical knowledge.
To learn more, visit our Center Education and Training Website

QPR + CALM Training
2024-07-17 13:00 - 15:00
QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and warning signs that someone may be at risk of suicide.
This date also offers a 1-hour Counseling on Access to Lethal Means Training (CALM) directly after the QPR sessions. You can opt-in to one or both trainings.
Pennsylvania suicide rates, especially in rural counties, are higher than the national average. QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is an individual who can recognize a crisis and the warning signs of someone possibly contemplating suicide. Anyone can become a gatekeeper: parents. friends, neighbors, teachers, athletic coaches, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, etc. Gatekeepers come from all walks of life and do not require any prior training or education.
You can access the registration online. Please contact us if you experience challenges with registration.
We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming training session!

Considering Alternatives to Prohibiting Psychedelic Drugs
2024-07-18 16:00 - 17:00
The RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute and the RAND Drug Policy Research Center Invite You to Attend

Considering Alternatives to Prohibiting Psychedelic Drugs

Thursday, July 18, 2024
4 to 5 p.m. EDT /
1 to 2 p.m. PDT

Zoom Webinar
Please register in advance

Register now »

About the Program

Psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin mushrooms and MDMA (ecstasy), have long been touted as holding promise for treating various mental health conditions. Some Indigenous groups have used some of these substances as spiritual medicines in traditional healing and ceremonies for millennia. Over the past decade, an increasing number of military veterans have pushed for more access to some of these substances. Clinical studies, including research conducted at (and that will soon be funded by) the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, are growing.
At the same time, some states and local governments are loosening their approaches to some psychedelics. In fact, some states are implementing or considering approaches that legalize some forms of supply to adults for any reason. It seems likely that more jurisdictions will consider and implement alternative policies to prohibiting the nonclinical supply of some psychedelics, possibly including retail sales. This means that these products will made more available to the U.S. population, including veterans. But how widely available will the drugs be? Under what conditions will they be accessed? And how will these changes affect Indigenous communities? Answers to these and other policy-related questions remain to be seen.
Our panel of experts will present new data about the use of psychedelics in the United States from a newly released RAND Report Considering Alternatives to Psychedelic Drug Prohibition. They will highlight the changing policy landscape at the state and local levels and consider the pros and cons of potential policy frameworks. There will be a special focus on what these changes mean for veterans and Indigenous Peoples.
This webinar is part of a series of events organized by the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute to explore pressing policy challenges affecting veterans, their families, and their communities. It is cohosted with the RAND Drug Policy Research Center which conducts research to help decisionmakers in the United States and abroad address issues involving alcohol and other drugs.

Moderator

Michelle Priest (she/her) is an assistant policy researcher at RAND and a Ph.D. candidate at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She holds B.A.s in economics and linguistics from the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as an M.Phil. in policy analysis from Pardee RAND Graduate School. Her research focuses on policymaking for emerging industries, including ethics in technology development, equity issues in the regulation of cannabis, and public safety related to psychedelic substances. She is a coauthor of RAND’s new report, Considering Alternatives to Psychedelic Drug Prohibition.

Featured Speakers

Beau Kilmer (he/him) is codirector of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center and a senior policy researcher at RAND. He conducts research at the intersection of public health and public safety, with an emphasis on crime control, substance use, illegal markets, and public policy. His recent projects have explored the consequences of cannabis legalization (with a special focus on social equity); the future of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids; the effect of 24/7 Sobriety programs on DUI, domestic violence, and mortality; and the implications of legalizing psychedelics. Kilmer is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on Public Health Consequences of Changes in the Cannabis Policy Landscape. In 2023, he was elected as vice president of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy. He has a Ph.D. in public policy from Harvard University.

Jesse Gould is a former Army Ranger and a pioneer in psychedelic therapies for veterans. As founder and president of the Heroic Hearts Project, he has spearheaded the research and acceptance of ayahuasca, ibogaine, ketamine, and psilocybin therapy programs for military veterans. Gould has connected hundreds of veterans to psychedelic treatments, partnered with the world’s leading psychedelic centers, and is researching psychiatric applications with the University of Georgia, the University of Texas, Austin Dell Medical School, and Imperial College of London. His mission is to help military veterans struggling with mental trauma and spread awareness of the benefits that psychedelic therapies offer as an alternative treatment to pharmaceuticals. Gould has spoken globally about the benefits of psychedelics on mental health and has been featured in the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Economist, and Forbes. He is recognized as one of the most influential voices in psychedelics today. To date, the Heroic Hearts Project has raised over $10 million dollars and has served over 1,500 veterans and military spouses through psychedelic therapies.

Rajeev Ramchand (he/him) is codirector of the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute, a senior behavioral scientist at RAND, and a professor of policy analysis at Pardee RAND Graduate School. He studies the prevalence, prevention, and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders in adolescents, service members and veterans, and minority populations. He has conducted research on suicide and suicide prevention including environmental scans of suicide prevention programs, epidemiologic studies on risk factors for suicide, qualitative research with suicide loss survivors, systematic reviews of the role of firearm availability, storage, and policies on suicide, and evaluations of suicide prevention programs. He has also developed freely available tools to help organizations to evaluate their own suicide prevention programs. In 2022, he was appointed by the Secretary of Defense to serve as a member of the Department of Defense Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee. He has testified on suicide prevention before the United States Senate and House of Representatives.

Additional speakers forthcoming.

Register for This Program

Please register to attend. This event is open to the public and advance registration is required. Those who register will receive Zoom connection details via email. For more details, please visit the event page.

QPR Training
2024-07-29 14:00 - 16:00
QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and warning signs that someone may be at risk of suicide.
Pennsylvania suicide rates, especially in rural counties, are higher than the national average. QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is an individual who can recognize a crisis and the warning signs of someone possibly contemplating suicide. Anyone can become a gatekeeper: parents. friends, neighbors, teachers, athletic coaches, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, etc. Gatekeepers come from all walks of life and do not require any prior training or education.
You can access the registration online. Please contact us if you experience challenges with registration.
We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming training session!
QPR Training Sessions
• Monday, July 29, 2024, 2:00-4:00 PM
•Tuesday , August 6 , 2024, 9:00-11:00 AM
• Friday, August 23, 2024, 2:00-4:00 PM
• Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 11 :00 AM-1:00 PM
• Monday, September 16, 2024, 12:00-2:00 PM

Clinical Community Partnerships to Support Behavioral Health for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families
2024-07-30 13:00 - 15:00
Jul 30, 2024 01:00 PM
Register online
Join us for an informative webinar on how clinical community partners can work together to support the behavioral health needs of service members, Veterans, and their families. You will hear from Federal and community-based speakers on the following topics:
The Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment (COMPACT) Act of 2020: The COMPACT Act supports implementation of a new Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policy that provides access to free emergency suicide care for Veterans in non-VA care settings. The goal of the COMPACT Act is to reduce Veteran suicide by guaranteeing no-cost care in times of crisis. https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-provides-free-emergency-suicide-prevention-care-to-nearly-50000/
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) services to Veterans: CCBHCs are funded to bring comprehensive community-based mental health and substance use services to individuals in communities. The statutory criteria requires that CCBHCs provide nine core services, including community-based behavioral health care and recovery supports for Veterans and certain members of the U.S. Armed Forces. https://www.samhsa.gov/certified-community-behavioral-health-clinics
CCBHC/VA Care Coordination: Care coordination is a critical element of services for CCBHCs. You will hear about how one CCBHC in Texas has partnered with their local VA medical center, supporting collaborative behavioral health interventions for Veterans in the community.

QPR + CALM Training
2024-08-06 09:00 - 11:00
QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and warning signs that someone may be at risk of suicide.
This date also offers a 1-hour Counseling on Access to Lethal Means Training (CALM) directly after the QPR sessions. You can opt-in to one or both trainings.
Pennsylvania suicide rates, especially in rural counties, are higher than the national average. QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is an individual who can recognize a crisis and the warning signs of someone possibly contemplating suicide. Anyone can become a gatekeeper: parents. friends, neighbors, teachers, athletic coaches, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, etc. Gatekeepers come from all walks of life and do not require any prior training or education.
You can access the registration online. Please contact us if you experience challenges with registration.
We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming training session!
QPR Training Sessions
• Tuesday , August 6 , 2024, 9:00-11:00 AM
• Friday, August 23, 2024, 2:00-4:00 PM
• Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 11 :00 AM-1:00 PM
• Monday, September 16, 2024, 12:00-2:00 PM

988 Day Activation Workshop
2024-08-12 14:30 - 15:30
Date & Time
Aug 12, 2024 2:30 PM ET
Learn more and register online

The first annual 988 Day is happening on September 8th, 2024, and we are asking for your participation to make it a success! Please join us for the first-ever 988 Day Activation Workshop. The workshop is intended for organizations and individuals interested in promoting mental health and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The goal of 988 Day is to raise awareness of 988 activities around the country in fun and creative ways. This year’s 988 Day message is: “No Judgment. Just Help.” In the workshop, we will explain 988 Day and then create breakout rooms for you to brainstorm ideas with others. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a movement that will make a lasting impact on mental health support across the nation. Together, we can ensure that everyone knows that at the 988 Lifeline there is “No Judgment. Just Help.”

Geriatric Care: Primary Care and Community Living Centers: Suicide Prevention Strategies for Older Adults
2024-08-13 12:00 - 15:00
August 13, 2024 at 12 noon.
Register online.
Program Description:

The purpose of this live, knowledge-based training is to increase provider awareness of the prevalence of suicide among older adults, to recognize the warning signs to manage suicide risk and to provide education on prevention strategies to mitigate suicide risk.

Date: Aug. 13 at noon ET
Location: VHA TRAIN

Access Links: Non-VA employees click here. VA employees click here.
Audience: Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, psychologists, physical therapists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, speech language therapists, pharmacists, social workers and dietitians
Modality: Virtual conference (webinar)
Credit/hours: 1
Accreditations: AAPA, ACCME, ACCME-NP, ACPE, ANCC, AOTA, APA, APTA, ASHA, ASWB, CDR, JAIPCE, NYSED-P, NYSED-SW
Questions?: If you require assistance, please contact the VHA TRAIN Help Desk by email at vhatrain@va.gov.

Training on Assessment of PTSD and Suicide Risk Management in Veterans
2024-08-14 08:00 - 2024-08-15 17:00
This training is funded by the PTSD Consultation Program at VA’s National Center for PTSD and presented in collaboration with VA’s Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program and the Center for Deployment Psychology.
Summary:
Cultural competence for clinicians working with Veterans and Service members includes developing familiarity with unique aspects of military culture that impact clinical care as well as common clinical issues faced by these populations. Accurate and comprehensive assessment of PTSD and suicide risk is important for developing effective treatment plans for Veterans and Service members. This two-day workshop aims to introduce participants to military culture and help them develop skills in assessing for two important clinical issues: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide risk.
Day One
An overview of military culture will be provided including basics about its history, organizational structure, core values, branches of the service, mission and operations, as well as the differences between the active and reserve components. Participants acquire greater competency in working with Service members and Veterans by learning military culture and terminology, and by discussing how aspects of the military culture impact behaviors and perspectives. The remainder of day one will review a method for screening, assessment, and treatment outcome monitoring of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) centered on the use of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Participants will be introduced to VA/DOD best practices for diagnosing military-related PTSD including screening for trauma-related disorders, obtaining thorough military and trauma histories, conducting a semi-structured diagnostic interview, and using self-report measures to track treatment outcome. Interactive exercises and video demonstrations will be used to help develop participants’ PTSD assessment skills.
Day Two
Veteran suicide remains a significant public health concern, with those diagnosed with PTSD at potentially elevated risk. Clinicians with the VA Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program will review risk factors and discuss empirically-supported best practices for suicide assessment, prevention, and intervention with Veterans, including lethal means safety counseling and collaborative safety planning.
Target Audience:
Licensed behavioral health providers who regularly treat U.S. Veterans (or who intend to treat U.S. Veterans) in the community can apply. This training is not intended for behavioral healthcare providers currently working in VA or DoD settings.
Continuing Education Details:
For specific information on the number and availablity of Continuing Education credits, please read the CE advertising memo here. Please send customer service requests to cds_support+cdp@affinityced.com.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will be able to:

Characterize the structure and major components of the United States military.
Analyze common characteristics of the military population and how they compare to the general population.
Substantiate the importance of a distinct culture to the military.
Appraise elements of the military experience and lifestyle that are integral to military culture.
Apply the VA/DOD Guidelines for the Assessment of Trauma and PTSD.
Discriminate between symptoms of PTSD and other disorders based on the DSM-5.
Facilitate the screening, diagnostic assessment, and tracking of treatment outcomes in PTSD patients using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).
Communicate results of diagnostic assessments as well as treatment outcome measures to clients to facilitate effective treatment.
Apply suicide risk identification methods, including identifying warning signs, predictive analytics, and screening.
Conduct a comprehensive suicide clinical risk assessment to include a review of assessment goals, suicidal ideation, and history of suicide, and identification of warning signs and both risk and protective factors for suicide.
Utilize the results of a suicide clinical risk assessment to develop a suicide risk formulation.
Provide recommendations for the documentation of suicide risk based on the outcomes of the suicide clinical risk assessment.
Differentiate between acute and chronic suicide risk and descriptors for low, intermediate, and high-risk status.
Justify the use of lethal means safety counseling as a best practice for suicide risk management.
Apply the recommended methods for lethal means safety counseling for firearms, medications, and other environmental risks to US Veterans.
Collaboratively develop and utilize an effective safety plan to mitigate suicide risk.

Application Information:
Applications can be completed through the Eventbrite system. All initial applicants will be waitlisted until the application is vetted through the CDP/VA Project Managers. Applicants will be notified by email of the decision within approximately two weeks of the application.
Cost/Refunds:
Zero cost, no refund policy
Online Via Zoom
14-15 August 2024, 10:00 – 18:30 Eastern time – Click Here for Registration!
Special Accommodations:
If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact Micah Norgard at micah.salas.ctr@usuhs.edu at least two weeks prior to the training so that we may provide you with appropriate service.
Presenters
Kevin Holloway, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist working as the Director, Training and Education at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In this capacity, he leads a team of subject matter experts and support staff to develop and present workshops across the world to military and civilian audiences on topics in deployment of behavioral health and evidence-based therapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Additionally, he leads a team of mental health subject matter experts and technology experts to develop and disseminate technology solutions to improve access to and quality of professional training.
Jenna Ermold, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist working as the Assistant Director of Training and Education for the Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Ermold oversees the development of online and face-to-face trainings for behavioral health clinicians to improve clinical and cultural competency in working with military members and their families. Dr. Ermold also presents workshops on deployment behavioral health topics for clinicians across the country.
Lauren M. Borges, Ph.D., is a clinical research psychologist at the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for suicide prevention. She holds an academic appointment of Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Her primary line of research concerns the use of contextual behavioral interventions like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help veterans and health care providers approach emotions like guilt and shame more flexibly. She is federally funded to investigate different applications of ACT for moral injury and for suicidal behavior in veterans and health care providers.
Lisa-Ann Cuccurullo, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist at the National Center for PTSD, where she works on a team that facilitates the use of empirically supported treatments for veterans in rural areas. Her clinical work has focused on cognitive behavioral treatments for PTSD (and other post-trauma-related symptoms), such as Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She is a national Prolonged Exposure consultant in VA. Before joining the staff of the National Center for PTSD, she was the Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator and Assistant Director of Psychology Clinical Training at the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Health Care System and a clinical instructor at Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Cuccurullo’s current research interests focus on the implementation of empirically supported treatments and posttraumatic symptom presentation. Dr. Cuccurullo received her doctorate in clinical psychology from La Salle University and completed her clinical internship and a PTSD-focused fellowship at the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Health Care System.
Hal S. Wortzel, M.D., is a forensic neuropsychiatrist at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC, where he serves as Director of Neuropsychiatric Consultation Services and Co-director for the National Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program. He is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at of the University of Colorado, and serves as the Michael K. Cooper Professor of Neurocognitive Disease, and as Faculty for the Program in Forensic Psychiatry. Dr. Wortzel maintains a private practice in Forensic Neuropsychiatry & Behavioral Neurology, and has consulted on numerous criminal and civil cases. Areas of research/scholarship interest include suicide risk management, aggression and suicide in the context of PTSD and TBI, brain injury litigation, and the application of emerging neuroscientific tools to the legal arena.
Megan Harvey, Ph.D., received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Cincinnati. She has held multiple positions within VA over the past 13+ years, including Local Recovery Coordinator, Local Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Coordinator, and Section Chief of Outpatient Services at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System. In 2018, Dr. Harvey joined the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide Prevention where she serves in the role of Program Evaluator for the Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program, is on the technical assistance team for the national Suicide Risk Identification Strategy and is a consultant for the Advanced Training in the Safety Planning Intervention (ASPI). Dr. Harvey’s interests include evidence-based interventions that promote recovery and mitigate suicide risk as well as program evaluation. She believes strongly in the mission of VHA and is honored to be contributing to Veteran services.
Ryan Holliday, Ph.D., is a Clinical Research Psychologist at the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center for Veteran Suicide Prevention and Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. His clinical and research interests focus upon understanding the intersection of trauma, psychosocial stressors (such as homelessness and justice involvement), and mental health. He is further interested in translating these findings into evidence-based practice.

What's Changed in the 2024 Revised CPG for Suicide Prevention?
2024-08-14 14:00 - 16:00
What’s Changed in the 2024 Revised CPG for Suicide Prevention?
August 14 • 2:00pm ET
The 2024 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for the Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide was just released. This program will familiarize participants with the new CPG, emphasizing changes that are particularly relevant to clinical practice. Strategies for implementing the new CPG and various recommendations will be offered.
Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

Increase their familiarity with the new 2024 CPG for assessment and management of suicide risk, including pertinent changes.
Implement the new CPG for the assessment and management of patients at risk for suicide in their clinical practice.

Register online.

INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
2024-08-19 12:00 - 13:00
INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
Suicide Prevention Training
The Integrating Trauma Informed Care into Suicide Response course will describe the role of trauma in both risk for suicide behaviors and in coping with suicide loss. It is a one-hour virtual training primarily designed for those who work with people at risk for suicide, such as health care providers and social service professionals.
The curriculum covers the role of trauma in suicide risk, the SAMHSA principles of trauma informed care, as well as specific trauma informed strategies to utilize with survivors of suicide.
Trainings are open to anyone and will be delivered virtually, via Zoom.
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention
Call: 878-208-8186
Email: pag109@pitt.edu
SIGN-UP TODAY!
https://tinyurl.com/4p6kamf7
Upcoming ITIC Training Sessions:

Monday, August 26th, 2024 from 11:00 AM -12:00 PM

Integrating Spiritual Supports for Veterans
2024-08-21 13:00 - 15:00
Wednesday August 21, 2024: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST
Presented by VA’s Homeless Programs Office, National Center on Homelessness among Veterans, in collaboration with VHA’s Institute for Learning, Education and Development (ILEAD)
Audience: Multidisciplinary staff serving Veterans at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness. Participants may include but are not limited to physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, counselors, case managers, housing specialists, peer specialists, occupational therapists, team leaders, supervisors, addiction specialists, and Network Homeless Coordinators.
Modality: Virtual conference (webinar)
Credit/hours: 1
Accreditations: ACCME, ACCME-NP, ANCC, AOTA, APA, ASWB, NBCC, ADA, NYSED, SW, CRCC
Overview:
Offering Veterans spiritual support could tackle a number of risk factors impeding health and well-being post-homelessness. Spirituality, as defined by Veteran Health Administration’s (VHA) Whole Health model of care, entails an individual’s search for meaning or purpose in something (e.g., an entity or experience) larger than oneself; it encompasses but is not wholly defined by formal religion. Supporting spirituality may counter mental health conditions and substance use which are notable risk factors for homeless status.
This webinar will review findings from a VHA quality improvement project conducted across HUD-VASH programs in New England; findings suggested that enhancing efforts to offer spiritual support within these programs would better address the needs of Veterans who desire such support.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this educational session, learners will be able to:

Describe the spiritual support preferences that exist among Veterans in New England’s HUD-VASH system.
Explain barriers to offering spiritual support that may be present within New England’s HUD-VASH system.
Identify strategies to create opportunities for how HUD-VASH could best offer spiritual support through collaborative efforts.

Registration: To receive credit for attending, VA employees need to register in TMS before the training begins:
To find a course when logging into TMS:
Go to Learning, scroll down to My Learning, type in Course # and Title
VA TMS 131013225 Integrating Spiritual Supports for Veterans in HUD-VASH: An Evaluation
Be sure to click Register Now rather than Assign to Me or Start Course
If you are external to the VA or Non VA staff you must have a registered TRAIN account AND register for todays training in TRAIN PRIOR to commencing training, failure to do so will result in CEUs not being awarded.
If you do not have a TRAIN account please click the link: https://vha.train.org.
VA staff register here
Non-VA staff Register here
For questions with TMS/TRAIN registration, please contact clarice.lewis@va.gov or lee.furry@va.gov

Tobacco, Nicotine and PTSD
2024-08-21 14:00 - 16:00
Tobacco, Nicotine and PTSD
Wednesday, August 21 at 2 pm ET
Register online
Tobacco use, and cigarette smoking in particular, is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. There have been significant declines in cigarette use in the general and Veteran populations, however the prevalence of tobacco use remains relatively high, especially in particular health disparity subgroups, such as veterans with PTSD. While it is well known that tobacco cessation can reduce the risk for adverse effects on physical health, evidence also indicates that tobacco use exacerbates symptoms of PTSD and smoking cessation reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety. Although VA providers who treat PTSD commonly encounter tobacco users, many feel they do not have adequate skills to provide behavioral counseling to assist with cessation efforts. As such, tobacco use is often not addressed and/or evidence based intervention elements are not provided, representing missed opportunities to address this critical health behavior. Tobacco cessation treatment training is not routinely provided, either in the context of professional training or within healthcare facilities. Teaching providers basic tenets of behavioral counseling for treating tobacco dependence will increase confidence in and likelihood of addressing patient tobacco use behaviors. To this end this presentation will provide education regarding the effective elements of brief behavioral counseling for treatment of tobacco dependence.
About the Presenter
MARK MYERS, PhD is a clinical psychologist at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System where he serves as the Lead Tobacco Cessation Clinician, having provided tobacco treatment to Veterans for over 25 years. Dr. Myers is also Deputy Director of the VA National Tobacco Cessation Clinical Resource Center, under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Tobacco & Health, engaged in program development, consultation and tobacco treatment training across the VA system. He is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego and has been involved in tobacco use and treatment research throughout his career.

QPR Training
2024-08-23 14:00 - 16:00
QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and warning signs that someone may be at risk of suicide.
Pennsylvania suicide rates, especially in rural counties, are higher than the national average. QPR is a two-hour educational program designed to teach professionals as well as lay “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. A gatekeeper is an individual who can recognize a crisis and the warning signs of someone possibly contemplating suicide. Anyone can become a gatekeeper: parents. friends, neighbors, teachers, athletic coaches, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, etc. Gatekeepers come from all walks of life and do not require any prior training or education.
You can access the registration online. Please contact us if you experience challenges with registration.
We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming training session!
QPR Training Sessions
• Friday, August 23, 2024, 2:00-4:00 PM
• Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 11 :00 AM-1:00 PM
• Monday, September 16, 2024, 12:00-2:00 PM
