Veteran Suicide Prevention
Training session provides insights into how to identify and address warning signs.
Knowing how to respond when someone has suicidal thoughts can save lives. An Oct. 29 training session hosted by Heading Home of South Central Indiana focused on ways to identify and address warning signs, and provided resources for preventing veteran suicide.
Jessica Schwarz gave a presentation about the Veteran Affairs S.A.V.E. training. The S.A.V.E. acronym stands for the following steps in suicide prevention:
- Know the signs that indicate a Veteran
might be thinking about suicide.
- Ask the most important question of all —
“Are you thinking of killing yourself?”
- Validate the Veteran’s experience.
- Encourage treatment and
expedite getting help.
Jessica noted that this approach is helpful for anyone in crisis, not just veterans. She is part of Heading Home’s veterans case conferencing initiative, aimed at ending veteran homelessness. Read more about that initiative here.
Click here to view a video of the Oct. 29 training. Click here to view the presentation’s slidedeck. You can find more info about S.A.V.E. training here. Click here for a resource about reducing firearm and other household safety risks.
