The Resilient Veteran

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)
2025-10-29 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Training Details
Duration2 hours
CostFree
ApprovalsThis activity is approved for the following credit: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, ANCC, ASWB, and AAPA Category 1 CME.
Quantity2 hours CE
ProviderPitt PERU and UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor
Audience
Open to all community members, Veterans and their families, and practitioners across healthcare, behavioral health, social services, education, first response, and peer support.
Description
Note: Consider registering for the CALM training offered immediately after this session, as it complements QPR.
QPR teaches practical skills that help you become an effective “gatekeeper” who notices warning signs, starts a caring conversation, and connects someone to help. You will learn the three core actions:

Question: Initiate a compassionate conversation to explore the individual’s thoughts and feelings about suicide.
Persuade: Encourage the person to seek and accept professional help.
Refer: Connect the individual with the proper resources and support services.

Concepts are reinforced with clear examples that fit daily life at home, in clinics, and in community settings. The training aligns with best practices, including asking directly about suicide, using non-stigmatizing language, and linking to 988 and local resources. Because suicide affects many groups, including Veterans and their families, QPR builds confidence to act early, reduce risk, and support safety while professional care is arranged.
OutcomesParticipants grow comfortable asking directly about suicide, increase accuracy recognizing clues and warning signs, and improve the speed and quality of referrals to crisis and community care, including 988 and local providers.
Learning Objectives

Recognize common verbal, behavioral, and situational warning signs of suicide
Differentiate helpful from unhelpful language when asking about suicide.
Demonstrate the QPR steps to encourage help-seeking and hope.
Apply a brief referral plan that links to 988 and local resources.
Collaborate with family, peers, and providers to support short-term safety.

Register Now
Questions? Contact Chris at 412-383-3926 or chirdon@pitt.edu
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov

Counseling on Access to Lethal Means Training (CALM)
2025-10-29 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-19 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-13 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-12 15:00 - 16:00
Training Details
Duration1 hour
CostFree
ApprovalsThis activity is approved for the following credit: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, ANCC, ASWB, and AAPA Category 1 CME.
Quantity1 hour CE
ProviderPitt PERU and UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor
Audience
Open to all community members, Veterans and their families, and practitioners across healthcare, behavioral health, social services, education, first response, and peer support.
Description
Note: Consider registering for the QPR training offered immediately before this session, as it complements CALM.
CALM teaches respectful, practical ways to reduce access to lethal means, especially firearms and medications, during periods of suicide risk. The session covers when lethal-means counseling is indicated, how to introduce the topic, and how to plan safe storage options that fit a person’s values and daily reality.
Participants practice language for collaborative problem-solving and learn how to coordinate with families and care teams. The goal is simple, safer environments for Veterans and all community members while risk is elevated, with clear next steps for follow-up and return to usual storage when the crisis has passed. Proposed firearm safety solutions respect individuals’ dignity and their second amendment rights.
Outcomes
Participants gain confidence initiating lethal-means conversations, identify feasible storage options, and coordinate follow-up with families and care teams to sustain safety.
Learning Objectives

Identify when lethal-means counseling is indicated.
Explain storage options for firearms and medications during elevated risk.
Demonstrate respectful language that aligns with personal values and legal considerations.
Apply a short safety plan that includes storage, monitoring, and follow-up.
Collaborate with families and providers to review and adjust the plan over time.

Register Now
Questions? Contact Chris at 412-383-3926 or chirdon@pitt.edu
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov

Suicide Prevention: Links to Substance Use Disorder Care (SUD)
2025-11-14 13:00 - 14:00
Training Details

Duration1 hour
CostFree
ApprovalsThis activity is approved for the following credit: ACPE CPE, AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, ANCC, ASWB, ACPE and AAPA Category 1 CME.
Quantity1 hour CE
ProviderPitt PERU and UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor
Audience
Open to all community members, Veterans and their families, and practitioners across healthcare, behavioral health, social services, education, first response, and peer support.
Description
This session connects substance use and suicide risk in clear, actionable ways. Participants will review key facts, treatment gaps, including some Veteran-specific considerations, then focus on “what to do next.” Learn to spot early warning signs, reduce stigma in conversation and care, and plan for safety that fits a person’s readiness and resources. We cover warm referral to treatment, coordination with recovery supports, and when to consider lethal-means steps within a broader safety plan. Participants leave with practical tools to act early, improve continuity of care, and support recovery in community and clinical settings.
Outcomes
Participants identify early risk, use stigma-reducing language, plan for safety, and complete warm referrals that connect people to timely SUD and mental health care.
Learning Objectives

Describe early warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors across settings.
Recall connections between SUD prevalence, treatment gaps, and links to suicide risk.
Demonstrate brief, stigma-reducing conversations that invite help-seeking.
Apply a safety plan that may include lethal-means steps where indicated.
Coordinate warm referrals and follow-up with treatment and recovery supports.

Register Now
Questions? Contact Chris at 412-383-3926 or chirdon@pitt.edu
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov

Integrating Trauma Informed Care into Suicide Response (ITIC)
2025-11-17 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-24 14:30 - 15:30
Training Details
Duration1 hour
CostFree
ApprovalsThis activity is approved for the following credit: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, ANCC, ASWB, and AAPA Category 1 CME.
Quantity1 hour CE
ProviderPitt PERU and UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor
Audience
Open to all community members, Veterans and their families, and practitioners across healthcare, behavioral health, social services, education, first response, and peer support.
Description
This training helps attendees understand how trauma can shape suicide risk, coping, and engagement before, during, and after a crisis. Using SAMHSA’s trauma-informed principles, we translate concepts into practical steps that create safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural humility. You will learn ways to reduce re-traumatization, strengthen connection, and support recovery for Veterans and civilians across settings. The session links principles to actions you can take today, including language, environment tips, and small process changes that improve care and community support. Participants leave with strategies that fit both professional practice and everyday life.
Outcomes
Participants connect trauma-informed principles to suicide prevention, reduce re-traumatization in conversations and settings, and improve engagement and follow-through after attempts or losses.
Learning Objectives

Explain how trauma exposure and responses can influence suicide risk and help-seeking.
Apply SAMHSA trauma-informed principles to real scenarios.
Demonstrate language and environmental adjustments that increase psychological safety.
Integrate peer, family, and cultural strengths into safety and recovery plans.
Evaluate interactions for potential triggers and adapt approach accordingly.

Register Now
Questions? Contact Chris at 412-383-3926 or chirdon@pitt.edu

Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)
2025-11-19 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-15 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-13 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-02-12 13:00 - 15:00
Training Details
Duration2 hours
CostFree
ApprovalsThis activity is approved for the following credit: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, ANCC, ASWB, and AAPA Category 1 CME.
Quantity2 hours CE
ProviderPitt PERU and UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor
Audience
Open to all community members, Veterans and their families, and practitioners across healthcare, behavioral health, social services, education, first response, and peer support.
Description
Note: Consider registering for the CALM training offered immediately after this session, as it complements QPR.
QPR teaches practical skills that help you become an effective “gatekeeper” who notices warning signs, starts a caring conversation, and connects someone to help. You will learn the three core actions:

Question: Initiate a compassionate conversation to explore the individual’s thoughts and feelings about suicide.
Persuade: Encourage the person to seek and accept professional help.
Refer: Connect the individual with the proper resources and support services.

Concepts are reinforced with clear examples that fit daily life at home, in clinics, and in community settings. The training aligns with best practices, including asking directly about suicide, using non-stigmatizing language, and linking to 988 and local resources. Because suicide affects many groups, including Veterans and their families, QPR builds confidence to act early, reduce risk, and support safety while professional care is arranged.
Outcomes
Participants grow comfortable asking directly about suicide, increase accuracy recognizing clues and warning signs, and improve the speed and quality of referrals to crisis and community care, including 988 and local providers.
Learning Objectives

Recognize common verbal, behavioral, and situational warning signs of suicide
Differentiate helpful from unhelpful language when asking about suicide.
Demonstrate the QPR steps to encourage help-seeking and hope.
Apply a brief referral plan that links to 988 and local resources.
Collaborate with family, peers, and providers to support short-term safety.

Register Now
Questions? Contact Chris at 412-383-3926 or chirdon@pitt.edu
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Sponsored By Erie Drug and Alcohol
2025-12-04 08:30 - 2025-12-05 16:30 | 154 West 9th Street, Floor 2, Erie, PA 16501, 40 W 11th St, SUITE B-050, Erie, PA, 16501, United States
Training Details
Duration2 Days (8:30 AM – 4:30 PM each day)
CostFree
ApprovalsThis activity is approved for the following credit: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, ANCC, ASWB, and AAPA Category 1 CME.
Quantity14 hours CE
ProviderPitt PERU and UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor
Erie County Drug and Alcohol is sponsoring this training which will occur in the Human Services Building, Floor 2: 154 West 9th Street, Floor 2, Erie, PA 16501

Audience
Open to all community members, Veterans and their families, and practitioners across healthcare, behavioral health, social services, education, first response, and peer support.
Description
ASIST is a two-day, in-person workshop that teaches a structured intervention model for suicide first aid. Through brief lectures, video examples, coached practice, and supervised simulations, participants learn to recognize invitations and warning signs, ask directly about suicide, and build a collaborative safety plan that connects the person to ongoing supports. The workshop uses a standardized format from LivingWorks, with trained facilitators who create a safe learning environment for people with varied roles and lived experience. Skills apply across home, workplace, and clinical settings, including support for Veterans and their families. By the end of the workshop, participants can organize risk information, strengthen reasons for living, map resources, and plan follow-up. ASIST has decades of evaluation and is widely used by health systems, community organizations, and first responders. The focus is practical, repeatable steps that improve confidence and effectiveness.
Outcomes
Participants increase self-efficacy, improve collaborative safety-planning skills, and strengthen coordination with family, peers, and providers for ongoing support.
Learning Objectives

Analyze risk and safety information to understand immediate needs.
Demonstrate the ASIST intervention model in a simulated interaction.
Develop listening and questioning skills that identify person-centered motivations to “turn” individuals toward the future, life, and support.
Integrate family, peers, and community resources into ongoing support.
Evaluate next steps and arrange active follow-up and warm handoffs.

Register Now
Questions? Contact Chris at 412-383-3926 or chirdon@pitt.edu
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov

Counseling on Access to Lethal Means Training (CALM)
2025-12-10 14:30 - 15:30
Training Details
Duration1 hour
CostFree
ApprovalsThis activity is approved for the following credit: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, ANCC, ASWB, and AAPA Category 1 CME.
Quantity1 hour CE
ProviderPitt PERU and UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor
Audience
Open to all community members, Veterans and their families, and practitioners across healthcare, behavioral health, social services, education, first response, and peer support.
Description
Note: Consider registering for the QPR training offered immediately before this session, as it complements CALM.
CALM teaches respectful, practical ways to reduce access to lethal means, especially firearms and medications, during periods of suicide risk. The session covers when lethal-means counseling is indicated, how to introduce the topic, and how to plan safe storage options that fit a person’s values and daily reality.
Participants practice language for collaborative problem-solving and learn how to coordinate with families and care teams. The goal is simple, safer environments for Veterans and all community members while risk is elevated, with clear next steps for follow-up and return to usual storage when the crisis has passed. Proposed firearm safety solutions respect individuals’ dignity and their second amendment rights.

OutcomesParticipants gain confidence initiating lethal-means conversations, identify feasible storage options, and coordinate follow-up with families and care teams to sustain safety.
Learning Objectives

Identify when lethal-means counseling is indicated.
Explain storage options for firearms and medications during elevated risk.
Demonstrate respectful language that aligns with personal values and legal considerations.
Apply a short safety plan that includes storage, monitoring, and follow-up.
Collaborate with families and providers to review and adjust the plan over time.

Register Now
Questions? Contact Chris at 412-383-3926 or chirdon@pitt.edu
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov

Suicide Prevention: Links to Substance Use Disorder Care (SUD)
2026-01-21 12:00 - 13:00
Training Details
Duration1 hour
CostFree
ApprovalsThis activity is approved for the following credit: ACPE CPE, AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, ANCC, ASWB, ACPE and AAPA Category 1 CME.
Quantity1 hour CE
ProviderPitt PERU and UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor
Audience
Open to all community members, Veterans and their families, and practitioners across healthcare, behavioral health, social services, education, first response, and peer support.
Description
This session connects substance use and suicide risk in clear, actionable ways. Participants will review key facts and treatment gaps, including Veteran-specific considerations, and focus on practical next steps. Learn to spot early warning signs, reduce stigma in conversation and care, and plan for safety that fits a person’s readiness and resources. The training covers warm referral to treatment, coordination with recovery supports, and when to consider lethal-means steps within a broader safety plan.
Outcomes
Participants identify early risk, use stigma-reducing language, plan for safety, and complete warm referrals that connect people to timely SUD and mental health care.
Learning Objectives

Describe early warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors across settings.
Recall connections between SUD prevalence, treatment gaps, and suicide risk.
Demonstrate brief, stigma-reducing conversations that invite help-seeking.
Apply a safety plan that may include lethal-means steps where indicated.
Coordinate warm referrals and follow-up with treatment and recovery supports.

Register Now
Questions? Contact Chris at 412-383-3926 or chirdon@pitt.edu
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov

Integrating Trauma Informed Care into Suicide Response (ITIC)
2026-01-28 11:00 - 12:00
Training Details
Duration1 hour
CostFree
ApprovalsThis activity is approved for the following credit: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, ANCC, ASWB, and AAPA Category 1 CME.
Quantity1 hour CE
ProviderPitt PERU and UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor
Audience
Open to all community members, Veterans and their families, and practitioners across healthcare, behavioral health, social services, education, first response, and peer support.
Description
This training helps attendees understand how trauma can shape suicide risk, coping, and engagement before, during, and after a crisis. Using SAMHSA’s trauma-informed principles, concepts are translated into practical steps that create safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural humility. Participants learn how to reduce re-traumatization, strengthen connection, and support recovery for Veterans and civilians across settings. The session links principles to concrete actions, including language choices, environmental considerations, and small process changes that improve care and community support.
Outcomes
Participants connect trauma-informed principles to suicide prevention, reduce re-traumatization in conversations and settings, and improve engagement and follow-through after attempts or losses.
Learning Objectives

Explain how trauma exposure and responses influence suicide risk and help-seeking.
Apply SAMHSA trauma-informed principles to real scenarios.
Demonstrate language and environmental adjustments that increase psychological safety.
Integrate peer, family, and cultural strengths into safety and recovery plans.
Evaluate interactions for potential triggers and adapt approach accordingly.

Register Now
Questions? Contact Chris at 412-383-3926 or chirdon@pitt.edu
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov

Suicide Prevention: Links to Substance Use Disorder Care (SUD)
2026-02-19 13:00 - 14:00
Training Details
Duration1 hour
CostFree
ApprovalsThis activity is approved for the following credit: ACPE CPE, AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, ANCC, ASWB, ACPE and AAPA Category 1 CME.
Quantity1 hour CE
ProviderPitt PERU and UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor
Audience
Open to all community members, Veterans and their families, and practitioners across healthcare, behavioral health, social services, education, first response, and peer support.
Description
This session connects substance use and suicide risk in clear, actionable ways. Participants will review key facts, treatment gaps, including Veteran-specific considerations, then focus on what to do next. Learn to spot early warning signs, reduce stigma in conversation and care, and plan for safety that fits a person’s readiness and resources. We cover warm referral to treatment, coordination with recovery supports, and when to consider lethal-means steps within a broader safety plan.
Outcomes
Participants identify early risk, use stigma-reducing language, plan for safety, and complete warm referrals that connect people to timely SUD and mental health care.
Learning Objectives

Describe early warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors across settings.
Recall connections between SUD prevalence, treatment gaps, and links to suicide risk.
Demonstrate brief, stigma-reducing conversations that invite help-seeking.
Apply a safety plan that may include lethal-means steps where indicated.
Coordinate warm referrals and follow-up with treatment and recovery supports.

Register Now
Questions? Contact Chris at 412-383-3926 or chirdon@pitt.edu
Funded by the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov
