MIRECC / CoE
Colorado VA Suicide Prevention Summit 2022
This virtual summit focuses on the ongoing battle with Veteran and Military Suicide
Combatting suicide is challenging but possible. Support that reduces suicidal thoughts and behaviors is key to preventing suicide. This summit brings together:
- Veterans
- Military - Active duty, National Guard & Reserves
- Loved ones
- Health care providers
- Advocates
This free summit explores the efforts and services of state, local, community and Veterans Affairs (VA) that support Coloradans who have served our country.
Reach out - together we will act as one Military family to save and improve the lives of Veterans and Service members.
Date: Wednesday, September 7th, 2022
Time: 9:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. MT
Location: Virtual
Who: Veterans, Military, their loved ones and supporters
Registration: Register here to receive a link to join this virtual event
Please join us for one or more of these sessions:
Welcome and Opening Remarks 9:45-10:00 a.m. MT
9:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. MT
Welcome & Opening Remarks
This session highlights Mesa County, Colorado where the Coroner’s Office created a Suicide Loss Coordinator position to strengthen community Suicide Postvention care.
Summit Host: Benjamin Kremer, LCSW
Suicide Prevention Coordinator
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center
Session 1:
10:00-10:50 a.m. MT
Community Suicide Postvention Care
This session highlights Mesa County, Colorado where the Coroner’s Office created a Suicide Loss Coordinator position to strengthen community Suicide Postvention care. Suicide Postvention builds on prevention by providing immediate and ongoing support to those impacted by a suicide loss. Community partnerships are key to Suicide Postvention efforts, especially in rural areas.
Moderator: Rainy Reaman, LCSW
Suicide Prevention Coordinator
VA Western Colorado Health Care System
Kari Swell, BSW
Suicide Loss Coordinator
Mesa County Coroner’s Office
Victor Yahn, F-ABMDI
Mesa County Coroner
Session 2:
11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. MT
Voices in Recovery: The Power of Veteran Peer Support
This session presents a panel of VA and community Veteran Peer Support staff sharing their own recovery stories and answering questions from attendees. Peer Support connects people who have been successful in their recovery from mental health, substance or housing challenges with fellow Veterans facing similar challenges including suicidal thoughts. The VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System has 30 Peer Support staff who mentor, support and provide connection to fellow Veterans. This program, offered at all VAs, is a powerful tool that changes lives daily!
Moderator: Crystal Tabor
She/her/hers
U.S. Army Veteran
Lead Peer Support Specialist
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center
Cottrell Caldwell
He/him/his
U.S. Army Veteran
Peer Support Specialist
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Colorado Springs Clinic
Morla Colby
She/her/hers
U.S. Army Veteran
Peer Support Apprentice
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Colorado Springs Clinic
Sarah Klimm
She/her/hers
USMC Veteran
Transgender Peer Support Manager
Minority Veterans of America
George Romero
He/him/his
U.S. Army Veteran
Peer Support Apprentice
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center
Session 3:
12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. MT
State Resources for Colorado Veterans and Their Supporters
This session spotlights Colorado suicide prevention initiatives that provide support including upstream approaches meant to improve mental health and well-being before a crisis evolves. A panel will discuss the targeted benefits of these three programs and how they came to be.
- Next Chapter is a pilot program in El Paso County where Veteran leaders, health care professionals and community partners join together to deliver the best support for Veterans.
- The Colorado National Collaborative for Suicide Prevention is a local and state partnership dedicated to comprehensive state and community-based strategies for suicide prevention, in which Veterans are a priority population.
- Operation Veteran Strong is a digital platform that connects Veterans and their supporters with local and state resources.
Moderator: Eric Jones
He/him/his
U.S. Army Veteran
Veteran Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Office of Suicide Prevention
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Nathaan Demers, Psy.D.
He/him/his
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
VP of Clinical Programs & Strategic Partnerships
Grit Digital Health
Damian McCabe, Lieutenant Colonel Retired, U.S. Army
Director, Behavioral Health-Military Affairs
University of Colorado Health System (UCHealth)
Dymond Ruybal, MPH
She/her/hers
Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Strategies Specialist
Office of Suicide Prevention
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Session 4:
1:30 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. MT
Whole Health: An Integrated Approach to Wellness
This session covers personalized plans that support your health and wellness. Whole Health is an approach to care that centers around what matters to you, not what is the matter with you. Physical, emotional, and mental health are all protective factors of suicide risk. Your exercise routine, diet, sleep patterns and relationships contribute to how you feel. Resources like yoga, meditation and acupuncture can support clinical treatments and reduce suicidal risk.
Rachel Thompson, PT, DPT NBC-HWC
Whole Health Coordinator
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Closing:
2:20 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. MT
This event is organized by:
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
VA Western Colorado Health Care System
Cheyenne Health Care System
VA Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention
Questions? Contact Ben Kremer at benjamin.kremer@va.gov
Download the event schedule.
Learn more about the Panelists.
Quick Links
Site Map
Contact Information
Colorado
Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC (RMR VAMC)
1700 N Wheeling St, BLDG A2
Aurora, CO 80045
720-723-6493
RockyMountainMIRECC@va.gov
Utah
VA Salt Lake City Health Care System
500 Foothill DR
Salt Lake City, UT 84148
801-582-1565 x2821
Site Map
Contact Information
Colorado
Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC (RMR VAMC)
1700 N Wheeling St, BLDG A2
Aurora, CO 80045
720-723-6493
RockyMountainMIRECC@va.gov
Utah
VA Salt Lake City Health Care System
500 Foothill DR
Salt Lake City, UT 84148
801-582-1565 x2821
Last Updated 18 August 2022