The Resilient Veteran

Caregiver Support Program: Setting Boundaries
2024-09-24 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Join the Caregiver Support Program this September
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) is excited to continue virtual events for caregivers of Veterans. Check out September’s schedule below.

Setting Boundaries
Join September’s VA Caregiver Support Line (CSL) Monthly Educational Calls for Good Grief: Finding Hope in the Necessary Losses of Being a Caregiver. Calls will be held on the following dates and times:

Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. ET (Presented in Spanish)

To listen to the CSL monthly education calls, dial +1 347-566-4838 Conference ID: 521 546 087#. Caregivers who are unable to listen to the calls can access presentations on the CSL webpage.
Reach Out to Your Caregiver Support Team!
Every VA facility has a Caregiver Support Team (CST). CST’s provide support and service referrals, and valuable information about resources to help you stay informed and supported as you care for your Veteran. Contact your local CST to learn about more events happening in your area.

Timely and Adaptive Strategies to Optimize Suicide Prevention Interventions
2024-09-19 13:00 - 15:00
Date/Time: September 19, 2024, 1:00–3:00 p.m. ET
Location: Virtual
Learn more and register online
Therapeutic interventions are now being applied in ways that may enhance timely and tailored strategies to address suicide risk. This approach requires ready access to end-user data that informs proactive intervention strategies. This webinar from the National Institute of Mental Health will consider 1) which data sources are best equipped to inform intervention strategies, 2) which intervention aspects should involve tailoring strategies vs. simpler approaches that may be just as effective, and 3) how such approaches can be incorporated into providers’ workflows within a health care setting.
This webinar brings together experts in areas that include passive and active data collection methods, the measurement of social contexts related to suicide risk, and the methodological aspects of Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAI). The goal is to provide insights into developing and testing JITAIs for suicide prevention and to offer guidance on incorporating these adaptive interventions into healthcare systems.

The Ripple Effect in Butler, PA
2024-09-18 17:30 - 20:00
The Butler County Suicide Coalition, Butler VA Health Care System, and The Penn Theater are hosting a free viewing of the Kevin Hines documentary: The Ripple Effect
In 2000, Kevin attempted to take his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge and lived. He made The Ripple Effect as a way to share his story of hope, healing, and recovery.
Where: The Penn Theater
149 N Main Street, Butler, PA
When: September 18, 2024
Doors open: 5:30pm
Movie starts: 6:00pm
Need more information about this event or the Butler County Suicide Coalition? Contact Amy Cirelli at BCHS (724-284-5114)

Caregiver Support Program: Setting Boundaries
2024-09-18 15:00 - 16:00
Join the Caregiver Support Program this September
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) is excited to continue virtual events for caregivers of Veterans. Check out September’s schedule below.

Setting Boundaries
Join September’s VA Caregiver Support Line (CSL) Monthly Educational Calls for Good Grief: Finding Hope in the Necessary Losses of Being a Caregiver. Calls will be held on the following dates and times:

Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. ET (Presented in Spanish)

To listen to the CSL monthly education calls, dial +1 347-566-4838 Conference ID: 521 546 087#. Caregivers who are unable to listen to the calls can access presentations on the CSL webpage.
Reach Out to Your Caregiver Support Team!
Every VA facility has a Caregiver Support Team (CST). CST’s provide support and service referrals, and valuable information about resources to help you stay informed and supported as you care for your Veteran. Contact your local CST to learn about more events happening in your area.

Cognitive Behavioral Nightmare Therapies and PTSD
2024-09-18 14:00 - 15:00
Wednesday, September 18 at 2:00pm ET
The prevalence of nightmare disorder in the general population is 5%. Nightmares are typically characterized as idiopathic (i.e., from an unknown cause) or trauma-related (i.e., beginning or changing in frequency, severity, or content after a traumatic event). Nightmares are reported by 30% of trauma-exposed civilians, 50% of trauma-exposed veterans, and 30-40% of active duty military personnel and members of the National Guard. Among individuals diagnosed with PTSD, nightmare rates are higher and are reported by 57% of civilians with PTSD and 50-70% of active duty service members with PTSD. A variety of cognitive behavioral interventions show promise for the treatment of nightmares and also improve insomnia, PTSD, and depression. There is a wide range of names for the various treatments tested in randomized controlled trials, which creates challenges in comparing treatment efficacy by protocol in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Furthermore, there are not enough providers trained in CBT-N. This presentation will bridge the gap by summarizing data regarding the definition and prevalence of nightmares, providing an overview of CBT-N protocols, describing research of the efficacy of CBT-N in PTSD, and describing a newly developed, DoD funded, web-based provider training for CBT-N.
View event listing
Register online

About the Presenter

KRISTI PRUIKSMA, PhD, DBSM is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The University
of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and a Diplomat for Behavioral Sleep Medicine. Her work focuses on clinical research and supporting dissemination of evidence-based treatments for sleep disorders and PTSD with a focus on active duty military personnel in affiliation with the STRONG STAR Consortium. She has published more than 50 empirically- reviewed articles and is currently the PI of a DoD funded project to build and test a web-based provider training for CBT for nightmares and a DoD funded project comparing CBT-I and BBT-I in active duty service members with postconcussive symptoms following Mild TBI.

Survivors of Suicide Bereavement Support Group
2024-09-17 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-08-20 17:00 - 18:00
Are you grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide?
Survivors of Suicide Bereavement Support Group
Held the THIRD Tuesday of the month
5:00PM-6:00PM
Mercer Area Library
110 E Venango St, Mercer, PA 16137
Must be at least 18 years old to attend
Facilitators are peers who have been trained to help those with a loss by suicide and want to help others cope with the loss of loved ones.
For more information contact Anna @ Mercer County Behavioral Health 724-662-1550 EXT. 190

QPR + CALM Training
2024-09-16 12:00 - 14:00
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
• Monday, September 16, 2024, 12:00-2:00 PM

Butler County Suicide Healing and Remembrance Mass
2024-09-15 14:00 - 15:00
Suicide Healing and Remembrance Mass
September is Suicide Prevention Month. There were 35 suicides in Butler County last year. Suicide remains a serious public threat that touches the lives of many Americans. Please join us for a Suicide Healing and Remembrance Mass on Sunday, September 15 at 2:00 at St. John the Evangelist Church (668 Clearfield Road, Fenelton, PA).
This Mass will be a time to remember our loved ones lost to suicide and to pray for people who have struggled with suicide ideation. The Mass will also acknowledge the individuals, families, and communities that have been impacted. If you choose, you will have an opportunity to place your loved one’s name in the church as a memorial for the month of September. Please join us to pray for those suffering with mental illness and those who have been affected by suicide.

Butler County, PA QPR Training Sessions
2024-09-13 09:00 - 15:00
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
The Butler County Suicide Coalition is holding an event each week in September to remember those we have lost while raising awareness and sharing prevention resources.
September 13: QPR Suicide Prevention Trainings. Learn how to save a life. Trainings are at BCHS at 9am and 1pm.
For more info or to register to attend either class session, contact Amy Cirelli at 724-284-5114.

Caregiver Support Program: Setting Boundaries
2024-09-11 19:00 - 20:00
Join the Caregiver Support Program this September
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) is excited to continue virtual events for caregivers of Veterans. Check out September’s schedule below.

Setting Boundaries
Join September’s VA Caregiver Support Line (CSL) Monthly Educational Calls for Good Grief: Finding Hope in the Necessary Losses of Being a Caregiver. Calls will be held on the following dates and times:

Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. ET (Presented in Spanish)

To listen to the CSL monthly education calls, dial +1 347-566-4838 Conference ID: 521 546 087#. Caregivers who are unable to listen to the calls can access presentations on the CSL webpage.
Reach Out to Your Caregiver Support Team!
Every VA facility has a Caregiver Support Team (CST). CST’s provide support and service referrals, and valuable information about resources to help you stay informed and supported as you care for your Veteran. Contact your local CST to learn about more events happening in your area.

Tribal-VHA Partnerships in Suicide Prevention Toolkit
2024-09-11 14:00 - 16:00
September 11, 2024 • 2:00pm ET

LECTURE TOPIC
Cultural Considerations Applied in Community: Tribal-VHA Partnerships in Suicide Prevention Toolkit
Register online
Native American Veterans have served in the United States military at a higher level per capita than any other race group. They also have the highest rate of suicide, and those rates continue to rise. While suicide prevention is often focused on clinical intervention in a moment of crisis, suicide prevention is also about community. And for Native Americans, community connection is critical.

VA’s S.A.V.E.(Signs of suicidal thinking, Ask questions, Validate the experience, Encourage and Expediate treatment) training brings the community into Veteran suicide prevention.
Tribal communities have time-honored approaches and practices grounded in culture, tradition, and Indigenous knowledge that can help prevent suicide.

The Tribal-VHA Partnerships in Suicide Prevention Toolkit provides guidance for interweaving these different but also often complementary approaches to suicide prevention. The Toolkit includes strategies and step-by-step guides for building partnerships and re-envisioning VA suicide prevention approaches with Tribal communities.
Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

Describe the general characteristics of Native Veterans and the communities where they live.
Identify critical components of VA facility/team readiness for Tribal partnerships.
Describe key elements of the four steps in creating a plan for initiating or strengthening a Tribal community partnership.
Identify the critical elements of the VA S.A.V.E. training to adapt into a S.A.V.E. Conversation culturally appropriate for a Tribal community.
Assess the differences between implementing a VA S.A.V.E. training and an adapted S.A.V.E. conversation.

PRESENTER INFORMATION
Carol E. Kaufman, PhD.

Carol E. Kaufman, PhD. is a population scientist with the Veteran Rural Health Resource Center, Salt Late City (VA Office of Rural Health) and a professor at the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. With 25 years of experience in research and public health practice with Tribal communities, she is a social demographer with a strong interest in the cultural and community context of mental health and well-being, health services, and suicide prevention. A significant part of Dr. Kaufman’s work centers on Native American Veterans’ issues, efforts she has grounded within a strong community-engaged framework, working closely with Tribal communities to enhance partnership and collaboration in all aspects of her work.

Nurturing Hope: Supporting Loved Ones Who Have Passive Suicidal Thoughts
2024-09-10 19:00 - 20:00
Nurturing Hope: Supporting Loved Ones Who Have Passive Suicidal Thoughts, sponsored by Families for Depression Awareness.
Airing Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm ET
Learn more online
Watch live on Facebook or YouTube
Dealing with chronic passive suicidal thoughts can feel like being stuck in a dark tunnel with no end in sight, both for the individual going through them and for their caregivers. It’s an experience that can feel isolating and overwhelming, but it’s not something you have to face alone.
Join us for “Nurturing Hope: Supporting Loved Ones Who Have Passive Suicidal Thoughts”, a livestream panel discussion that aims to illuminate the difficult nature of passive suicidality. We’ll explore ways to navigate these delicate situations, offering resources and strategies for caregivers. Together, we can foster open conversations, encourage understanding, and provide crucial support for our loved ones.

Presenters

Kiara Alvarez, PhD

Kiara Alvarez, PhD is a Bloomberg Assistant Professor of American Health in the Department of Health, Behavior, and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is a licensed psychologist and holds a joint appointment at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Her research focuses on youth mental health equity, suicide prevention, and the well-being of Latinx and immigrant youth, including family-centered approaches to integrating mental health into primary care and community settings. She is on the Board of Directors for the Society for Prevention Research and steering committee for the Youth Suicide Research Consortium.

Johanna Louie, LCSW

Johanna Louie is a licensed clinical social worker passionate about caring for caregivers. In 10+ years of working in suicide prevention, she has served in roles like crisis line manager and psychotherapist, as well as directed clinical training programs. In 2018, she co-founded Suicide Is Different (SID) with Daniela Zanich. To this day, SID continues to provide support services for both professional and family caregivers caring for someone thinking about suicide. Johanna holds Master’s Degrees in Social Work from Columbia University and Human Behavior from the University of Southern California.

Imadé Nibokun

Imadé (ee-MAH-day) is a writer, mental health advocate, and founder of Depressed While Black®. She is a suicide attempt survivor who lives with clinical depression and borderline personality disorder. Imadé first developed Depressed While Black as her 2015 Columbia University Non-Fiction Creative Writing MFA thesis. Depressed While Black has grown into an online community and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that donates Black-affirming personal care items to psychiatric patients and connects people to Black therapists.

Lisa Mecham, MSW, Moderator

Lisa Mecham, MSW, is a writer and freelance editor based in California. Her work has been featured in The New York Times: Tiny Modern Love and Roxane Gay’s bestselling anthology Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture. Lisa’s writing about redefining her family and staying legally married to her husband, despite their separation, has been published in The On Being Project and HuffPost. Lisa’s interests center around resiliency, agency, and hope, with a particular focus on empowering women. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

QPR Training
2024-09-10 11:00 - 13:00
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
• Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 11 :00 AM-1:00 PM
• Monday, September 16, 2024, 12:00-2:00 PM

Butler, PA Community Mental Health Summit
2024-09-10 08:00 - 17:00
SAVE THE DATE for the annual Butler VA Health Care System’s Mental Health Summit to be held on September 10. This year’s theme is “Stop the Stigma!” In-person attendance will be limited, but there will be an option to participate virtually. The event will be held at the Abie Abraham VA Health Care Center, Auditorium, located at 353 North Duffy Road, Butler, PA 16001. Please call 878-271-6172 to register or for more information.

Butler County, PA Warrior Walk
2024-09-08 14:00 - 17:00
Sunday, September 8th at 2pm
Karns City Athletic Field
In memory of Tyler J. Barger
#beheretomorrow
All money raised from the walk goes to iRise to Save Lives for suicide prevention, education, and awareness.

Butler County, PA Suicide Awareness Remembrance Rally
2024-09-04 17:00 - 19:00
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
The Butler County Suicide Coalition is holding an event each week in September to remember those we have lost while raising awareness and sharing prevention resources.
September 4, 2024: Suicide Awareness Remembrance Rally 5:00pm Diamond Park, Main St Butler PA. A time of support and remembrance for our community.
For more info contact Amy Cirelli at 724-284-5114.

INTEGRATING TRAUMA INFORMED CARE INTO SUICIDE RESPONSE (ITIC)
2024-08-26 11:00 - 12:00
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

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

Caregiver Support Program: Setting Boundaries
2024-08-21 15:00 - 16:00
Join the Caregiver Support Program this August
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) is excited to continue virtual events for caregivers of Veterans. Check out August’s schedule below.

Setting Boundaries
Join August’s VA Caregiver Support Line (CSL) Monthly Educational Calls for Setting Boundaries: Defining What is Best for You, the Caregiver. Calls will be held on the following dates and times:

Wednesday, August 21 at 3 p.m. ET

To listen to the CSL monthly education calls, dial +1 347-566-4838 Conference ID: 521 546 087#. Caregivers who are unable to listen to the calls can access presentations on the CSL webpage.
Reach Out to Your Caregiver Support Team!
Every VA facility has a Caregiver Support Team (CST). CST’s provide support and service referrals, and valuable information about resources to help you stay informed and supported as you care for your Veteran. Contact your local CST to learn about more events happening in your area.

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.

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

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

Sober Summer Fun!
2024-08-17 11:00 - 14:00
AUGUST 17, 2024, 11 am
Sober Summer Fun!
Please join us for a cornhole tournament, free school supplies, backpacks and other give away items!
JOIN US FOR FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN!
Woodcock Lake Park
23050 Woodcock Lake Park
Shelter 3
Meadville PA
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance awarded totaling $300,000 with 100% funded by HRSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Boardwalk in the ‘Burgh
2024-08-16 10:00 - 14:00
Do you enjoy free food, live entertainment and activities for your kids – all while learning more about your VA benefits?
Have we got an event for you – stop by our Boardwalk in the ‘Burgh on Friday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on our H.J. Heinz III campus.
Stop in for:

Free hot dogs, chips and cold beverages
Cornhole with friends
Dunk tank featuring VA staff
Live entertainment with Richard “Doc” Mondak of Rust Bucket
Fresh produce for purchase
Information on VA benefits
Womens health Q&A
And more – check back for updates!

In addition, Veterans with a service-connected disability who were separated from the military under other than honorable conditions through either an administrative discharge or by special court martial can meet with a VBA representative to check their eligibility for VA benefits and health care under a recent rule change.
Bring your Veteran friends, whether or not enrolled in VA health care! Families, children and significant others welcome!
Festivities kick off at 10 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Center for Whole Health and Wellness.
Address

1010 Delafield Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15240-1005
Get directions on Google Maps

Phone numbers

Main phone: 866-482-7488Main phone
Mental health care: 412-360-6600

To find out if you are eligible to enroll in VA health care:

Call VA toll-free at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Apply at www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply
Download the mailable VA Form 10-10EZ. Send the completed 10-10EZ with a copy of your DD214 to VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Attn: Patient Registration, University Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15240.

Caregiver Support Program: Setting Boundaries
2024-08-14 19:00 - 20:00
Join the Caregiver Support Program this August
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) is excited to continue virtual events for caregivers of Veterans. Check out August’s schedule below.

Setting Boundaries
Join August’s VA Caregiver Support Line (CSL) Monthly Educational Calls for Setting Boundaries: Defining What is Best for You, the Caregiver. Calls will be held on the following dates and times:

Wednesday, August 14 at 7 p.m. ET
Wednesday, August 21 at 3 p.m. ET

To listen to the CSL monthly education calls, dial +1 347-566-4838 Conference ID: 521 546 087#. Caregivers who are unable to listen to the calls can access presentations on the CSL webpage.
Reach Out to Your Caregiver Support Team!
Every VA facility has a Caregiver Support Team (CST). CST’s provide support and service referrals, and valuable information about resources to help you stay informed and supported as you care for your Veteran. Contact your local CST to learn about more events happening in your area.

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.

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.

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.

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.”
