RMIRECC Short Takes on Suicide Prevention

Searching for the meaning of life is only natural. A meaningful life leads to a sense of purpose, self-esteem and psychological well-being. How do life experiences that are unique to Veterans alter these feelings? In this episode, Dr. Edgar Villarreal speaks with VA researcher Dr. Adam Kinney and Army Veteran, Jeff Moe to find out. They discuss how Kinney's research, on meaning in life among Student Veterans with combat exposure, relates to Moe's life experiences. His journey from military to student life led to supporting others as a Student Veteran Outreach Coordinator with the VA VITAL program. Transcript Episode 135 Short Takes VITAL: VA Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership Article Discussed: Protective factors that mitigate the indirect risk of combat exposure upon meaning in life: A longitudinal study of student veterans Host: Edgar Villarreal, PhD, is a Psychologist and the Director of Education and Training at the VA Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention. Guest: Jeff Moe, LCSW, is an OEF/OIF Veteran, Social Worker, and Advocate. He currently works as the supervisor of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Suicide Prevention Telehealth Program that specializes in providing mental health services to at-risk Veterans across most of Texas and parts of New Mexico. Previously, Jeff built on his experience as a Student Veteran and worked for eight years as a VA Student Veteran Outreach Coordinator at colleges and universities in the Austin, Texas area. While in this position, he worked collaboratively with Student Veterans, faculty, and staff to develop peer mentorship and other preventive programming while also providing counseling, health care enrollment, and other support services tailored specifically to Student Veterans. Guest: Adam Kinney, PhD, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist who completed his PhD in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University in 2019. While pursuing his PhD he collaborated with New Start for Student Veterans, a supported education program for student Veterans, to investigate factors influencing a range of clinical outcomes, including resilience, community reintegration, and academic performance. His current research focuses on improving care quality and associated outcomes for Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and sleep conditions.

It is well known that exercise can improve both physical and mental health. But what about preventing and treating PTSD in Veterans? In this episode, Dr. Edgar Villarreal speaks with researcher Dr. Daniel Reis and Army Veteran Adam Holt. Through the lens of both research and lived experience they explore exercise as an alternative treatment option for Veterans living with PTSD. Reis shares the findings of his article that reviewed research on the effect of exercise on PTSD symptoms in Veterans. And Holt shares his own journey from struggling with trauma, substance use and suicide attempts to literally running from relapse. Holt recently opened a free gym to create an active, sober community and support Veterans in recovery.   Transcript Episode 134 Short Takes Article Discussed: Exercise to Reduce Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Veterans Host: Edgar Villarreal, PhD, is a Psychologist and the Director of Education and Training at the VA Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention. Guest: Adam Holt is a U.S. Army Veteran and the Executive Director of Outsiders Anonymous - a 100% free gym for individuals in recovery, Veterans with PTSD, and the community that supports them.  Guest: Daniel Reis, PhD, is an Advanced Fellow in Mental Illness Research and Treatment at the VA Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention. His research interests include the relationship between lifestyle variables and mental health outcomes as well as the impact of seasonal sunlight on depression treatment outcomes. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein.

Veterans experiencing homelessness face unique challenges that increase their risk for suicide. In this episode, Dr. Edgar Villarreal talks to our guest Dr. Ryan Holliday about the need for research focused on this population. They discuss an article that explores research priorities identified by experts and Veterans with lived experience in suicide prevention and homelessness who came together in a recent VA meeting. Today's conversation covers reaching Veterans with the services they have access to, upstream interventions and the need for tailored approaches for subgroups such as women and men or rural and urban. Targeted research will help broaden suicide prevention efforts beyond mental health interventions to support those experiencing or at risk for homelessness. Transcript Episode 133 Short Takes Article Discussed: Establishing a Research Agenda for Suicide Prevention Among Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Host: Edgar Villarreal, PhD, is a Psychologist and the Director of Education and Training at the VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center for Veteran Suicide Prevention. Guest: Ryan Holliday, PhD, 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.

Acquired neurologic conditions can lead to functional challenges and changes that might increase risk for suicide. In this episode, Dr. Jordan Wyrwa and Dr. Lisa Brenner discuss three recent research papers on suicide rates among Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Stroke. They talk about the similarities and differences of how these conditions impact mental health and offer guidance to providers on suicide risk screening and lethal means safety. Learn more from the resources below. Articles Discussed: Suicide and Traumatic Brain Injury Among Individuals Seeking Veterans Health Administration Services Between Fiscal Years 2006 and 2015 Suicide Among Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis  Suicide After Stroke in the US Veteran Health Administrative Population Lethal Means Safety for Providers: Information on lethal means safety  Free training on lethal means safety   Guest Bios:   Lisa A. Brenner, Ph.D., is a Board-Certified Rehabilitation Psychologist, a Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), Psychiatry, and Neurology at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, and the Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center. She is also Vice Chair of Research for the Department of PM&R. Jordan Wyrwa, DO, is a Board-Eligible Fellow Physician in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine at Children's Hospital Colorado. He is a recent graduate of the University of Colorado, PM&R Residency Program.

Several states in the US have legalized medical cannabis as a treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a condition that many Veterans experience. While many people with PTSD use cannabis products, questions remain about the effectiveness. In today's conversation, forensic neuropsychiatrist Dr. Hal Wortzel talks with our guest host, Dr. Suzanne McGarity, about his recent observational study on cannabis use among people with PTSD. They discuss the nature of observational studies, the current state of the research and the results of this recent study. Article: The long-term, prospective, therapeutic impact of cannabis on post-traumatic stress disorder. About Hal Wortzel: Hal Wortzel, MD, is a forensic neuropsychiatrist at the Denver VA's Rocky Mountain MIRECC, where he serves as Director VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness in Psychiatry, Director of Neuropsychiatric Consultation Services, and Co-Director of the VA Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program. He is also an associate professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado. He serves as the Michael K. Cooper Professor of Neurocognitive Disease, Director of the Neuropsychiatry Service, and as faculty for the Division of Forensic Psychiatry. Current areas of clinical and academic focus include aggression and suicide in the context of PTSD and TBI, incarcerated veterans, and the application of emerging neuroscientific tools to the legal arena.

Short Takes Episode 130 Transcript The VA is known as a leader in suicide prevention, offering innovative approaches to preventing Veteran suicide. And yet, many Veterans are not enrolled in VA care. It is therefore imperative that community organizations that serve Veterans have the resources and knowledge to help with veteran suicide prevention. The Patient Safety Center of Inquiry - Suicide Prevention Collaborative is an innovative partnership with community agencies that serve Veterans, such as homeless programs, veteran service organizations, private mental health clinics, and legal services. In this episode, Dr. Bryann DeBeer, Clinical Research Psychologist at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide Prevention, tells Adam Hoffberg about the Suicide Prevention Collaborative, which recently won the 2021 National VHA Community Partnership Challenge, and why building community partnership is essential for Veteran suicide prevention. About Bryann DeBeer: Dr. Bryann DeBeer is the Director of the VA Patient Safety Center of Inquiry – Suicide Prevention Collaborative, a Clinical Research Psychologist at the VA Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention, and a Visiting Associate Professor at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. DeBeer received her B.A. in psychology and fine arts from New York University in 2003. She completed her doctoral training in clinical psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2012, and obtained her clinical license in 2014. She joined the Rocky Mountain MIRECC in 2020. Dr. DeBeer has extensive experience in longitudinal assessment, treatment development, and clinical trials, particularly related to PTSD, suicide risk, and complex comorbidities in Veterans. Dr. DeBeer serves as a panel member of the VA Clinical Science Research and Development Data Monitoring Committee. Resources: Article about the Suicide Prevention Collaborative Press Article about the 2021 National VHA Community Partnership Challenge Award

Suicide prevention is a worthy goal itself, but it's about more than stopping just one suicidal event – it's also important to address the emotional pain underlying suicide and build a meaningful life that's truly worth living. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, known as ACT, is a therapy approach that helps people experience their emotions in a new way, take perspective on their thoughts and build a more meaningful life.  Is ACT a useful approach for addressing suicide? In this episode, Dr. Sean Barnes, clinical research psychologist at the VA Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention, talks with guest host Dr. Debbie Sorensen about his research on ACT for Life, a new treatment designed to help Veterans respond effectively to suicidal thoughts and actions using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  In this episode, Barnes and Sorensen discuss:  What ACT is, and why its approach to suicide is unique Sean's intervention, ACT for Life, and how he and his colleagues are targeting suicidal behavior from a contextual behavioral approach Current research on ACT  Responding to suicide-related thoughts using ACT The importance of values in building a life worth living Article:  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Promote Recovery from suicidal crises: A Randomized Controlled Acceptability and Feasibility Trial of ACT for life Resources:  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline/ Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 Veterans and Military Press 1 Suicide Risk Management Lecture Series About Sean Barnes: Sean M. Barnes, Ph.D. is a clinical research psychologist at the VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Veteran Suicide Prevention and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. Sean is a consultant for the Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program and an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Depression provider and training consultant. He is also the principal investigator of the ACT for Life study, testing a brief ACT protocol for maximizing recovery after suicidal crises. Other aspects of Sean's research focus on the use of contextual behavioral interventions for moral injury, and the study of suicide risk assessment, but all his projects share a common goal of alleviating suffering and helping others build vital meaningful lives.  

The transition from military to civilian life can be an important time for service members. For many, it is an exciting life transition. For some, however, it can be a time of high stress, and even crisis. Whether it’s changes in social support, financial stress, a change in identity, or a cultural adjustment, some service members struggle during this period and are at heightened risk for suicide.  What are the factors that increase suicide risk during that transition? Which service members are at the highest risk? Do length of service and military branch matter? What outreach and prevention efforts are being made? And what can everyone – friends, families, and clinicians – do to support our service members and veterans during the transition period?  In this episode, Dr. Bridget Matarazzo, Clinical Research Psychologist and Director of Clinical Services at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention, talks to Dr. Mark Reger and Brady Stephens about their research on this important topic!  About Mark Reger and Brady Stephens:  Mark Reger, Ph.D. is the Chief of Psychology at the VA Puget Sound and a professor at University of Washington School of Medicine in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. His research focuses on veteran and military prevention, risk and protective factors unique to the military community. Brady Stephens, MS SAS.C.P. is a statistician and the Director of Data Analytics and Informatics for VA VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention. Resources:  Article: “Association of Suicide Risk with Transition to Civilian Life Among US Military Service Members” https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2770538 Make the Connection website (stories of other service members): https://www.maketheconnection.net/ In Transition Program (DoD) https://www.pdhealth.mil/resources/intransition

The relationship between PTSD and suicide is important to understand if we want to prevent suicide among veterans and military service members. So what is the relationship between PTSD and suicide? Well, according to suicide and PTSD researcher Dr. Ryan Holliday…. It’s complicated! In this conversation, Dr. Holliday talks to fellow MIRECC Psychologist, Dr. Nazanin Bahraini, about his review of the recent research on suicide risk and PTSD. They discuss who is most vulnerable for suicide, and what drives suicide risk. Dr. Holliday talks about how clinicians can navigate these complex factors to help their clients in therapy, and offers some words of wisdom and support for veterans and service members who are struggling.

Social connection is a key aspect of suicide prevention in older adulthood. Dr. Kimberly Van Orden, who researches isolation and connection in older adulthood, talks to Dr. Lisa Brenner about her background in suicide prevention and older adulthood, benefits and vulnerabilities associated with aging, and why social connectedness is especially important in later life. She tells listeners about social connection planning and describes the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy model for helping older adults cope with isolation.

In our last show for season 4 we close with a look at post-traumatic growth and suicide with Dr. Daniel DeBrule. Daniel was mentored by Drs. Lawrence G. Calhoun and Richard G. Tedeschi and brings that wisdom and ideas to this podcast. 

We recorded this podcast in early April just as we were still trying to understand what life would mean during the pandemic. I didn't start working on the podcast until the end of July and was worried if it would still hold up. I think it does for the most part though we are all a little wiser. One part that I really like was when Ted talks about how he got interested in working with Veterans. It was through his practicum at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago. I bring this up to encourage students to explore placements in the VA as a way to gain valuable experience in the field.

I read a column in the gardening section of the Denver Post in spring of 2019 and stumbled on the writer Chryss Cada. In the last two paragraphs she announced that this was her last column that she'd be dedicating the next portion of her journey on telling the story of losing her brother, Mark, to suicide when he was 15 and she was 12. We touched base but it was too early in her journey. Chryss got back in touch when she had finished her writing and we accomplished this podcast. Take some time to listen please.

Some time ago Adam attended an immersive theater presentation at Rose Medical Center across the street from our old VA medical center. The performances, First Do No Harm and The Clinic, were performed in the hospital and bring the audience into the experience in a wholly different way. Tara recently recorded COVID Stories. With Adam she discusses art as a way to heal.

This week we talk with gero-psychologist Evan Plys, PhD about suicide prevention in long-term care settings; from independent-living to assisted-living to nursing home. Evan has volunteered and worked in long-term care since he was young and has a special affinity for our elders. He offers advice on how to discuss suicide within these settings and with this population. He also discusses the idea of creating an environment which promotes wellness and a life worth living.

For this episode we turn the mic over to Ryan Holliday a clinical and research psychologist at RMIRECC. Ryan asked for the mic so he could interview two Sean's. The first is Shawn Liu with the VA Programs for the Homeless and the second Sean Clark, VA Veterans Justice Outreach. The three team up to get in depth on the intersection Homelessness, Justice Involvement and Suicide Prevention. They also make the case why every clinician working with Veterans should get to know their local VA staff working in homelessness and justice involvement.

Adam Hoffberg got a chance to talk with Dr. Pearl McGee-Vincent, of the National Center for PTSD Dissemination and Training Division about the updated release of the app PTSD Coach. The wildly respected and used app now includes a digital safety plan for suicide prevention. Pearl takes us on a guided tour of the app and how it can make a difference in the lives of Veterans.

My partner came across an article from The Colorado Trust on Trauma Informed Design. The article was titled, "Using Trauma-Informed Design, Buildings Become Tools for Recovery". The article lead me to Jennifer Wilson, a social worker and research associate with the Center for Housing and Homelessness Research at the University of Denver. Jennifer agreed to the podcast and invited Laura Rossbert, Chief Operating Officer at Shopworks Architecture to join. We have talked about trauma informed care and I just had to find out about trauma informed design. Laura and Jennifer will help you gain an appreciation of the 3 C's and just what it means to truly listen to those we serve.

This week Adam is in conversation with Shane Kraus to talk about addiction and suicide prevention. Dr. Kraus discusses the behavioral addictions: gambling and sex. The great thing to hear is that both are responsive to treatment and there are many treatment resources within the VA. It starts by talking and by listening.

As the producer for the Short Takes podcast I usually just sit back while Adam interviews our guest. This week both Adam and I sat out while we turned the mic over to Tara Galovski, the co-director WoVeN - the Women Veterans Network. Tara interviewed 3 WoVeN leaders and they had such a great time telling their story. You just know this group works and loves one another and what they are doing.

This week Adam talks with Katie Juhasz from the National Center for PTSD. They talk about a new product called Card for Connection. Cards for Connection is a free resource that puts simple coping skills and VA phone numbers directly into Veterans’ hands. Originally created for Veterans who had experienced homelessness, the card deck has now been updated with information for all Veterans. The 52 cards in the deck have easy-to-implement coping skills and important phone numbers, such as the Veterans Crisis Line and the Help for Homeless Veterans line. As a result, Veterans playing a game of cards read positive affirmations, reminders to breathe, and encouragement to make a connection with others.

This is such a great podcast to drop right now with all the uncertainty of COVID-19. This podcast with John Ferguson and Adam Hoffberg contains two meditations from John using his Tibetan Singing Bowls. Listen to the meditations and I think you'll get an idea why the program John describes, yoga and Tibetan singing bowls, just might work. Take care.

Adam saw Dennis' Ted Talk and knew he had to reach out and learn more and see if there was a fit for a podcast. Did Dennis have more to say beyond what he told us in the Ted Talk. It turns out he did. Much more.

The VA's public-private partnership gets another turn of the mic with Adam Hoffberg interviewing Justin Miller and Chis Mercado from Objective Zero. Justin and Chris are the heart of the Objective Zero origin story and the power of listening. Listen to their story and how it has inspired many, many others to reach out and help. Visit their website: https://www.objectivezero.org/

This is the last in our series from the VA/DoD Suicide Prevention Conference. Adam wanted to get together with groups that are part of the public-private partnership that the VA has formed to promote Veteran well-being. CaringBridge is a nonprofit social network that rallies community around people on health journeys. Their platform gives patients and caregivers a place to update family and friends, ask for help and get support and encouragement.

To start a new year we are going to shamelessly play the dog card because dogs are just great! (Cats are great too but this episode features Jimmy Tatum and Remi. Adam is also on this episode too but it really is Remi and Jimmy and the great work that K9 Partners for Patriots does. The mission of this group is, "To give veterans and active military a second chance at life by honoring and empowering those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Military Sexual Trauma through the experience of training and caring for their own service dog."

We participated in this Short Take as a follow-up to our panel at the 2019 VA/DoD Suicide Prevention Conference titled, "Bouts with Burnout: Managing Work-related Stress Across the Suicide Prevention Field." We were honored to have so many engaged attendees and wanted to offer an opportunity for folks who could not attend to learn more about our panel. Our team included Monireh Moghadam, LCSW, who presented lessons learned and prevention approaches for clinicians and suicide prevention coordinators. Aaron Barrow (Peer Support Specialists) who talked about his experiences with being Veterans in recovery and working with suicidal Veterans. Jason Chen, PhD presented on the development and application of a model for wellness among research staff. Kyla Tompkins, MA, reviewed an applied example of implementing burnout prevention programming as a non-clinician.

This episode bring Matt Miller back in the studio with Adam. Last time we spoke with Matt he was the director of the Veterans Crisis Line. This time he joins as the National Director for Suicide Prevention at the Veterans Administration. They discuss the VA's public health approach and the National Strategy to Prevent Veteran Suicide and the latest developments in research efforts.

For part 4 of our Moral Injury series Georgia Gerard interviews Chaplain Steve Sullivan about how he helped create the VA/Clergy Partnership for Rural Veterans. This partnership brings together community clergy, mental health providers, and others to help veterans gain access to both VA and community care and support. Steve worked to establish six ongoing VA/Clergy “community action boards” (CABs) in rural sites throughout Arkansas.  He also served as Implementation Lead for the VA Community Clergy Training Program from 2016 to 2019. Steve has served as a hospital and VA chaplain for the last 15 years. Steve currently works as the "Community Coordinator" for VA Mental Health and Chaplaincy in Durham, NC and serves as co-leader of their “Collaborating in Care: Ministry and Mental Health” trainings.

This week's episode was recorded at the VA/DoD Suicide Prevention in Nashville, TN, August 2019. Adam was at the conference and had put out the word that he was available to record podcasts. And so he met George Stoudemire. George is a Violence Prevention instructor for US Air Force. He got involved in the program after a 2nd suicide attempt. He heard that "To be part of the solution, I needed to be part of the process." And he has had a deep, personal dive into being part of the process and being part of the solution. And that includes short videos on his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/lee.stoudemire.98) reminding folks that they matter. My takeaway from producing this episode is George has a zest for life will bring you into the process.

We first met Duane at a VA Mental Health Summit in Colorado Springs in 2018. We had heard of him through his Twitter presence @ThCounselingVet, knew he did his own podcast titled Head Space and Timing, was a combat Veteran, a licensed therapist and an author of Combat vet don't mean crazy: veteran mental health in post-military life and found out he is a heck of a nice guy. While it took over a year for us to get together and record this podcast and another 9 months to get it out we are proud to finally get him on our small channel. Meanwhile, Duane has dropped over 165 podcasts and published a second book, Head Space and Timing: Veteran Mental Health from a Combat Veteran Perspective

Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Veterans Health Administration, scientific study of Modeling to Learn is underway to determine its effectiveness increasing delivery of evidence-based addiction and mental health care (NIDA R01DA046651 and R21DA042198; HSRD I01HX002521; PI: Zimmerman). The Modeling to Learn program supports multidisciplinary teams of frontline psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing and certified peer support specialist providers in the Veterans Health Administration. This podcast with Dr. Zimmerman introduces the participatory Modeling to Learn effort including the facilitators, workgroup leads, key partners and co-investigators who learn with frontline staff from MTL data and simulation resources. Dr. Zimmerman’s team, “Team PSD,” is distributed across the United States. 

This episode we dedicate to Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being and stability of those it serves. This session was recorded in December 2018. Since this discussion James and Tammy have left the Coalition.

On this week’s episode of the Rocky Mountain Short Takes on Suicide Prevention we dialed up Dr. Nathan Ainspan a research psychologist from the DoD Transition to Veteran Program Office. If you have ever been unemployed you know what it can do to your emotional well-being. Top that off with the financial effect and you can understand how this can increase risk for depression and wreak havoc on your sense of purpose. Nate talks passionately about the idea of purpose, dedication and mission as a cornerstone of well-being. And that can start with employment, but he then stretches it out to include volunteering, getting involved in a house of worship and being a part of a larger community. Anything that adds to a sense of purpose.

To bring effective, innovative treatment to the up to 50% of Veterans entering VA health care who have Insomnia Disorder, VA has developed an online training course called “Path to Better Sleep.” In this podcast, Dr. Sarra Nazem, from Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide Prevention, interviews clinical psychologists Dr. Carolyn Greene and Dr. Andrew Moon from VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention about Insomnia Disorder, the link between Insomnia Disorder and suicide, and how VA is bringing treatment directly to Veterans through the free, self-directed, online training course “Path to Better Sleep.”

For episode 100 we are going back to our guest from episode one, Dr. Peter Gutierrez. That first episode was Risk Factors, Warning Signs, and Drivers of Suicide and is a great introduction for someone coming into the clinical field of suicide prevention. In it Pete says, “Think of warning signs and risk factors as a map; drivers are the specific route your patient is traveling.” In episode 100 we bring Pete back because of a paper that recently came out, “Investigating the reliability of suicide attempt history reporting across five measures: A study of US military service members at risk of suicide.” The paper can be read for free here.   We brought Pete in to discuss a specific aspect of the paper – do any of the 5 suicide risk assessment measures predict future suicide attempts? And, drum roll please, the answer is no, not really. The real gem and take away of this podcast, however, each measure is a great tool to help the patient and clinician focus in on how the patient is doing week to week and are treatment goals being met. Each tool will help the patient and clinician decide what to work on now and then measure how much progress is (or isn’t) being made. So, clinicians keep doing your good work and seeing the possibilities in preventing suicide.

This week we hand the mic to 2 researchers/clinicians, Sean Barnes and Lauren Borges, who explain how to use chain analysis in a treatment setting. Chain analysis is a truly collaborative approach that enlist the client to take a deep dive into the chain of events that lead up to the target behavior they want to change. It is a way to focus on "the processes that lead to the suffering." The work starts with the client deciding what the target behavior they want to change is, and then going back along the chain to the prompting event (first link in the chain), finding all the links between the first and last links and determining what vulnerabilities influence it all. And then focusing change on the links. Lauren and Sean break it down so it will make sense to you in your practice.

In this podcast, Judge Shakes describes how the Veterans Trauma Court is modeled after problem-solving drug courts. The court is for Veterans ready to take responsibility for themselves and their actions. The Veterans are connected to services that might range from the Veterans Administration, Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists, the Vet Center, the Family Care Center, the Peer Mentor Program, Operation TBI Freedom, and other community organizations. Judge Shakes talks about the role that trauma and/or substance abuse plays in the lives of these Veterans and how the skills they learned and used when in the military can be some of the same skills that help them out of their current straits.

“Speak the name of the beast and it will retreat;” When it comes to suicide postvention in school settings, “…it’s not whether or not we talk about it, it’s how we talk about it.” Join our host, Dr. Sarra Nazem as she welcomes Stan Collins, an expert with 20 years of postvention experience within school settings. Together they discuss considerations for developing and implementing a suicide postvention plan to assist students, teachers, administrators, and the surrounding community, and stress the importance of developing this plan even before a suicide loss occurs in an academic setting. Be sure to also check out the accompanying resources, including toolkits, manuals, and guideline documents that could help you and your school district jumpstart a comprehensive suicide prevention and postvention program today.

Suicide postvention is “not something we should wait to talk about,” especially within crisis centers. Proactive training and planning are extremely beneficial to suicide postvention for crisis lines or call centers like the Veteran Crisis Line (VCL). Learn more about what crisis centers do & how crisis centers support their callers, their employees and the agencies they work with in this episode with our host Dr. Sarra Nazem and guests, Greg Hughes, LISCW and Joi Sabrina, LPC from the VCL.

Remember “Compassion over Caution” when considering legal and ethical challenges that may arise when working with patients who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. Tune into this episode with our host Dr. Sarra Nazem, as Dr. Vanessa McGann and Skip Simpson, JD discuss suicide postvention ethical and legal considerations. They provide recommendations on how to manage confidentiality and liability queries that may arise both before and after a suicide loss in a manner that is ethical, legal, and helpful to personal and professional healing.

“We grieve because we love;” join Kim Ruocco, Vice President of T.A.P.S., and Dr. Maggie Guglielmi of the Stratton VAMC who are leaders in providing suicide postvention for those who are military connected or a part of the Veteran community (including supervisors, providers or professional caregivers who work with military personnel and veterans). In this episode, hosted by Dr. Sarra Nazem, they discuss cutting edge recommendations for postvention processes, as well as how to establish and utilize suicide postvention teams and peer support for these loss survivors. Be sure to check out the resources discussed in this episode by visiting the webpage!

Balancing administrative needs and clinical support are essential to postvention in medical settings. Listen to this episode to learn from the breadth of experience that Drs. Sung and Myers have carrying out suicide postvention processes and providing suicide postvention training and support for employees, supervisors and patients within medical settings. Together with our host, Dr. Nazem, they break down recommended best practices and provide suggested resources to help optimize suicide postvention processes.

This week, Adam interviews Dr. Diana Brostow, a Research Nutritionist at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC, about her work in food insecurity. She shares how our understanding of food insecurity is changing: It cannot be seen as strictly a poverty issue, i.e. “no money = no food = hunger”, but instead is a complex problem, shaped by social, psychological, cultural, and environmental forces. Diana shares her research findings on nutrition and mental health, explains how she is reframing food insecurity as “nutritional functioning”, and outlines future directions for this line of investigation.

: Join our host, Dr. Sarra Nazem, and Dr. Larry Berkowitz and Eliza Jordan Dolan, LISCW of the Riverside Trauma Center as they share their experiences and expertise consulting for, participating in, and implementing suicide postvention in a variety of mental health settings. In this episode, they provide recommendations and resources for developing and fine-tuning an inclusive suicide postvention process to best serve all individuals within a mental health center or private practice that may be affected by suicide loss.

Veterans Treatment Courts (VTC) are an alternative to community corrections and the Department of Corrections. It’s an opportunity for our former service members that may find themselves in the justice system to identify and treat mental health and substance use issues that they wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to address. Treatment courts have been around 30 years and Veterans Treatment Courts have been around for around a decade. The difference in VTC is that our courts offer veterans specific treatment for issues like trauma and post-traumatic stress as well the opportunity to work with a veteran mentor or “battle buddy” throughout the program. Here in Colorado we have 6 state affiliated VTCs located around the state. We are always in need of veterans who would like to volunteer to help the folks in our court. If you have an hour a month to come to court and are willing to keep in touch with a mentee, you can find information by clicking here. Or email me at joseph.ellis@judicial.state.co.us and I will get you in touch with a mentor program near you.

Postvention plans are necessary for every workplace; Dr. Sally Spencer Thomas is a psychologist and suicide loss survivor with expertise on how to provide support for those affected by suicide loss. Tune into this episode with our host Dr. Sarra Nazem as she and Dr. Spencer Thomas discuss the role of suicide postvention in the workplace, recommendations for how to put a postvention plan in place, who within a workplace should be involved, and workplace postvention resources that can be used today.

Postvention is for providers too; Professional caregivers, such as mental health providers, medical providers, social workers, trainees, case managers, psychiatrists or supervisors are likely to be exposed to a suicide loss at some point in their career. Join Dr. Nazem as she and the co-chairs of the American Association of Suicidology Clinician Survivor Taskforce, Drs. Nina Gutin and Vanessa McGann, discuss why suicide postvention is beneficial and necessary for providers, the components of a postvention plan, and recommendations for how to develop and implement postvention in professional caregiving workplaces.

The time after losing a loved one to suicide is like being on a roller-coaster blindfolded; tune in as our host Dr. Sarra Nazem and Dr. Nina Gutin guide us through the lived experiences of family members and friends after a suicide loss. Together they establish what this experience is like for both individuals impacted by the loss and for those around them. They’ll communicate what to expect and how to both provide and seek support for oneself or loved ones including children and adolescents. Dr. Nina Gutin is a suicide loss survivor, clinical psychologist, and pioneer in the field of suicide postvention.

Postvention is Prevention; join our host Dr. Sarra Nazem as she and Dr. Jack Jordan lay a foundation for understanding what suicide postvention is, what it entails, who it is for, and why it is essential to a comprehensive suicide prevention plan.  Jack Jordan, PhD is a clinical psychologist, grief therapist and published researcher in the field.

Early in 2019 I saw a simple tweet thanking the Armed Service Arts Partnership (ASAP) for their help in launching a book of poetry. Intrigued, I first wanted to know who was helping Veterans publish their poetry (and you can learn more about this great organization at www.asapasap.org) and then wanted to learn more about the author of the poetry, Jacquelyn Bengfort. So, I messaged her on Twitter and authors do what authors do, she wrote back. We were lucky to be in Washington DC to record most of this face-to-face with a short segment rerecorded over the phone. Jaci is fascinating and Adam does another great job getting the most from wonderful guest. Enjoy. And understand why saying 'Thank you for your service' is just the start of a long and long-lasting conversation.