Welcome to PERU's September newsletter for the Northwest Pennsylvania (NW PA) Veteran Suicide Prevention Program. We look forward to updating you every month with program news, training events, community outreach activities, and evidence-based best practices for reducing suicidality and increasing social connectedness and resilience among Veterans.

We encourage you to connect with us through Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter and share the news of this program with colleagues, friends, and relevant community organizations. Your participation is greatly appreciated.

National Buddy Check Week

VA, in support of The Strong Veterans Act of 2022, has dedicated a week to organize and facilitate Veteran connections, outreach and education around peer wellness, crisis prevention and community. This week is appropriately titled “Buddy Check Week” and will be held from Oct. 16 to 20.

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Take Our Suicide Awareness Survey

We are collecting information about beliefs, attitudes, and experiences involving suicide and mental health issues. You are encouraged to take the survey and share it within your personal and professional networks.

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SCI Houtzdale Welcomes Moral Injury and SUD Training

Greg Griffith, senior program implementation specialist, recently visited SCI Houtzdale’s VSU in Clearfield County to conduct moral injury training and teach an introductory overview about Veterans and substance use disorder (SUD).

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We accept relevant contributions for our events calendar and news blog. Members may also share program-related training, events, and activities on our Facebook and LinkedIn groups.

Integrating Trauma-Informed Care into Suicide Response (ITIC)

TWO sessions to choose from:

Monday, December 11th , 2023 from 10:00-11:00 AM OR

Wednesday, January 17th , 2024 from 11:00AM-12:00 PM

ONLINE

The ITIC course describes 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.

To register, contact Patti Tanner at pag109@pitt.edu.

QPR + CALM Training Sessions for Fall/Winter 2023

View our events calendar to sign up for our upcoming QPR Gatekeeper (Question. Persuade. Refer.) and CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) training opportunities. All session are free and delivered online.

New Training Opportunities Now Available

Visit our website to learn about our newly expanded menu of training classes. In-person and online offerings include:

• QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer.)
• CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means)
• Applied Suicide Interventional Skills Training (ASIST) *In-Person Only
• Introduction to Military Culture
• Overview of Moral Injury (MI)
• An Epidemic in Our Ranks: Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

Please share with your personal and professional networks throughout the region. Contact us to set up a training for your organization, association, or business.

Fully funded by the CDC, this program aims to reduce Veteran suicide attempts, injuries, and deaths by 10% (on average) over five years in the fifteen counties of Northwestern Pennsylvania. By improving access to treatment and support services, we will increase awareness of Veteran suicide risk through suicide prevention community activities and training opportunities.

Our Vision: The work of the Northwest Pennsylvania Veteran Suicide Prevention Program will result in resident Veteran suicides being reduced to zero by the end of the project period (August 31, 2025).

Whether you identify as a healthcare provider, community organization, or Veteran, there are several opportunities through the NW PA Veteran Suicide Prevention Program to connect to resources, participate in educational training, and promote harm reduction strategies for at-risk Veterans.

We are actively recruiting healthcare and community partners to work with us in meeting our goals and objectives. Help us:

• Create community-based programs and services that foster supportive environments, promote social belonging and community connections, and offer effective coping and resilience-building strategies.
• Deliver healthcare-related programs and services that identify and support people at-risk and strengthen access to and delivery of care.
• Reduce misuse of firearms and prevent suicide by firearms.
• Offer suicide awareness training for community members and Veterans.
• Provide activities that promote Veteran culture and connection within communities.

The list above represents a sample of all available opportunities. Please contact us to connect with a program specialist and learn more.

To learn more, and meet our program implementation team, visit the NW PA Veteran Suicide Prevention website at theresilientveteran.org.

Need Help? Know Someone Who Does? Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or use the online Lifeline Crisis Chat. Both are free and confidential. You'll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor in your area.