Veterans face enormous challenges as they transition from military to civilian life. Family members, friends, and colleagues of veterans also face unique challenges in supporting those who served. COVID-19 presents new anxieties that may compound these factors. Forefront’s LEARN Saves Lives for Veterans training, developed in partnership with the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, offers perspective on the unique challenges Veterans and their families face and teaches essential skills for support and suicide prevention, specifically tailored to those who have served, their loved ones, and those who work with or support them.
The LEARN Steps:
Look for Signs
Empathize and Listen
Ask Directly About Suicide
Reduce the Dangers
Next Steps
Detailed Agenda:
- Introduction and public health issue of suicide
- Covers risk factors and experiences specific to veterans
- Suicide prevention skills using Forefront’s LEARN model
- Includes imminent harm by lethal means (such as firearms)
- Prevention approaches practice
- Gives participants an opportunity to practice suicide prevention skills with their peers
Click here for a downloadable version of Forefront Suicide Prevention LEARN Skills for Adults.
View and download Forefront Suicide Prevention LEARN® Skills for social media.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 988
Press 1 for Veterans.
Press 2 for Spanish.
Crisis Text Line: 741741, text ‘heal’.
Click here for more crisis lines and treatment resources.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a network of local crisis lines. Usually calls are answered by local lines. This means that the crisis counselor you talk to may know about local resources.