MIRECC / CoE
2023 Colorado Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Suicide Prevention is Everyone’s Business
Preventing Veteran suicide is challenging, but possible. Support that reduces suicidal thoughts and behaviors is key to preventing suicide. This month long event brings together:
- Veterans
- Military - Active duty, National Guard, and Reserves
- Family, friends, and loved ones
- Health care providers
- Advocates
This list of free activities and events highlights the efforts and services of state, local, community, and Veterans Affairs (VA) that support Coloradans who have served our country.
Don’t wait. Reach out.
Together we will act as one Military family to save and improve the lives of Veterans and service members. Don't Wait. Reach out. | VA
Eastern Colorado
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
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11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Cultural Competency Training for Suicide Prevention
Presenters:
Crystal Tabor, Lead Peer Support Specialist, U.S. Army Veteran, Patriot Missile Crew/Combat Medic
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center
Jessica Podkulski, Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center
Objective
Veterans have unique experiences and challenges that can impact their mental health. As providers, it is important to have a thorough understanding of these issues to provide the best care possible. This training will provide participants a deeper understanding of the unique experiences of Veterans and how to provide culturally competent care that is sensitive to their needs. Please attend this training for an opportunity to learn more about military culture, survivor’s guilt, lethal means biases, and trauma informed language from the perspective of VA’s peer support specialists.
Teams Meeting
Join on your computer, mobile app, or room device
Meeting ID: 226 507 486 939
Passcode: Yr8LJp
Or call in (audio only)
+1 872-701-0185,,272330417#
Phone Conference ID: 272 330 417#
Friday, September 22, 2023
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9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Rocky Mountain Regional VA
Suicide Prevention Summit Day 2023
Preventing Veteran suicide is challenging, but possible. All are welcome to attend our summit for Suicide Prevention to highlight the efforts and services that support Colorado’s Veterans.
- Location: Auditorium, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, 1700 N. Wheeling Street, Aurora, CO 80045
- Parking: Free parking for visitors in the South Parking Garage for all Veterans and community members.
- Who: Veterans, Military, their loved ones, and supporters
- Contact: James.Gallanos@va.gov
This free event is hosted by Eastern Colorado VA Suicide Prevention Team. Please join us for one or more of these events/activities:
Welcome
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Michael T. Kilmer, Director
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Benjamin Kremer, LCSW, Suicide Prevention Program Manager
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center
Session 1
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9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
VA SAVE Suicide Prevention Awareness Training
Facilitator: James Gallanos, LCSW
Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator, Suicide Prevention Team
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
VA S.A.V.E. Training will help you act with care and compassion if you encounter a Veteran who is in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts. The acronym S.A.V.E. helps you remember the important steps involved in suicide prevention:
- S ~ Signs of suicidal thinking should be recognized
- A ~ Ask the most important question of all — “Are you thinking of killing yourself?”
- V ~ Validate the Veteran’s experience
- E ~ Encourage treatment and Expedite getting help
Session 2
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Veterans Helping Veterans: Join the Fight!
Presenter: Crystal Tabor, Lead Peer Support Specialist, U.S. Army Veteran
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center
Session 3
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11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
VA Suicide Prevention Resource Fair: Resources for Colorado Veterans, Families, and Their Supporters
The resource fair will host a variety of Colorado VA and community suicide prevention services and initiatives that provide support including upstream approaches meant to improve mental health and well-being before a crisis evolves.
Resource/Tables Listing
- VA ECHCS Suicide Prevention Team
- VA Caregivers Support Program
- VA Whole Health
- VA Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention
- Rocky Mountain Human Services, VA Homeless Program
- Veterans Expedition Therapy (VET)
- VA Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- VA Peer Support Specialists
- Meet Therapy Dogs and VA Facility Dog, Tootsie
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
VA Suicide Prevention Awareness Walk and Roll
- Meet and gather at Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center Auditorium between 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to get you or your team’s social media picture taken with our “Don’t Wait, Reach Out” selfie frame.
- At 12:00 p.m. we will depart the VA Medical Center’s, South Visitors entrance to Walk and Roll together as a group or at your own pace around the medical campus. Thanks for helping to show your support and that Suicide Prevention is Everyone’s Business!
Session 4
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Transforming Community Based Military/Veteran Suicide Prevention: A Pilot Test of VA/Community Learning Collaborative Model
Presenter: Patricia Russell, PhD
VA Health Science Specialist
Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention
Session 5
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
“The Art of Medicine: Suicide Prevention”: A Conversation about Suicide Prevention with Medical Providers
Moderator: Anne-Claire Thomas, PharmD
VA Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
VISN-19, Academic Detailing Service
- Location: Auditorium
- Who: Health care providers
Closing
3:00 p.m.
Thanks for Showing Your Support
Questions?
Contact Ben Kremer at Benjamin.Kremer@va.gov
Western Colorado
Saturday, September 9, 2023
9:00 a.m.
Western Colorado Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk
Glenwood Springs Community Center, Glenwood Springs, CO: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
5:00 p.m.
Volley’s sponsored “Reach Out” Veteran SPM Volleyball Tournament
Saturday, September 16, 2023
9:00 a.m.
Meeker Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk
RBC Downtown Plaza, Meeker, CO: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
Thursday, September 28, 2023
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12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Suicide Prevention Self-Care Summit
Experiential Self-Care Exercises for Veterans and VA Staff
Drop-in at your leisure!
In-Person Building 6 Room 103 or Virtual Viewing Via Teams
Self-Care Agenda
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Welcome and Introduction
Jerred Endsley, LCSW
Local Recovery Coordinator
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Mindful Self-Compassion
David Muniz
Peer Specialist
Jeremy Harris
Peer Apprentice
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Yoga and Recreational Therapy
Maksim Zaporozhchenko
Yoga and Recreational Therapist
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Whole Health Self-Care Activity
Brooke Wimer, OT
Whole Health Program Coordinator
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Discussion and Closing
Jerred Endsley, LCSW
Local Recovery Coordinator
Join by phone (audio only)
Dial 1-872-701-0185 Conference ID: 599 673 947#
Join by web browser
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting?rtc=1
Meeting ID: 263 800 390 285
Passcode: SoNd6P
Questions about the Western Colorado events? Contact Rainy Reaman at Rainy.Reaman@va.gov
Northern Colorado
Friday, September 22, 2023
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8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
NoCo Suicide Prevention Walk
Join us for a 2k walk and event for Veterans, staff, and families to come together to show force and commitment to Suicide Prevention at the Northern Colorado VA Outpatient Clinic.
Point of Contact: Lauren SinClair at Lauren.Northrup@va.gov or 970-393-6644
Southern Colorado
Friday, September 22, 2023
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Colorado Springs, Suicide Prevention Awareness Day
- Resource Tables and Walk and Roll from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (walk from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
- PFC Floyd K Lindstrom VA Clinic at 3141 Centennial Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Last Updated 15 September 2023
Site Map
Contact Information
Colorado
Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC (RMR VAMC)
1700 N Wheeling St, G-3-116M
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
