Welcome to PERU's monthly 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.

The PTSD Self-Screen

The National Center for PTSD is the world’s leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress. We’re sharing this self-screening resource as a way for Veterans and their families to have meaningful conversations about trauma and stress.

Read time: 3 minutes

The Resilient Veteran Community Toolkit

Download our free online community toolkit that contains information about our no-cost training and education programs, services available to Veterans and their families throughout the 15-county region, tips for promoting social connectedness and recognizing the signs of a mental health crisis, and strategies for safe storage of potentially lethal means, such as prescription medications and firearms. All materials in the toolkit can be shared.

Read time: 5 minutes

September is National Suicide Prevention Month

Learn more about National Suicide Prevention Month and outreach activities organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Read time: 4 minutes

Aging and PTSD

As many Veterans ages 60+ live within our 15-county region, we are sharing information from VA about how aging affects PTSD.

Read time: 3 minutes

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.

8th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference

Ambassador Conference Center, Erie, PA

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

This annual conference typically draws 200+ participants from Erie County and beyond and hosts breakout sessions focusing on suicide prevention, intervention, and post-vention. This year’s theme is Forging Ahead with Hope: Innovation in Prevention.

Training Opportunities Available

You can visit our website to learn about our 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 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.