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    Everyone has a Role in Veteran Suicide Prevention

    9/19/2022 8:00:00 AM

    Veterams Crisis LineMinnesota loses more than 100 Veterans a year to suicide. This is a tragedy that the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is committed to ending.

    September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. While suicide prevention is important to address year-round, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month provides a dedicated time for people, organizations and communities to join their voices to broadcast the message that suicide can be prevented, and healing is possible. Everyone has a role to play to save lives and create healthy and strong individuals, families and communities. We can come together to reduce factors that increase the risk for suicidal thoughts and behavior, and increase the factors that help strengthen, support and protect people from suicide.

    At MDVA, the Suicide Prevention Team offers a number of trainings to prepare people to join in this effort.

    • Mental Health First Aid: Teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.
    • CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means): For mental health providers in Minnesota who work with service members, Veterans, and their families. This free online course focuses on how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves. It covers how to: (1) identify people who could benefit from lethal means counseling, (2) ask about their access to lethal methods, and (3) work with them—and their families—to reduce access.
    • PsychArmor: More than 15 classes are available including Myths and Facts of Wounded Warriors, Suicide in Military Members and Veterans, and Inner Conflict and Survivor’s Guilt.
    • SAVE Training: You will learn to understand the signs of suicidal behavior, ask the important questions, validate the person’s experience, and encourage or expedite getting help.

    For more information, email SuicidePrevention.MDVA@state.mn.us.

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