The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense (DoD), the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) or the Henry M. Jackson Foundation of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. The DoD and the Center for Deployment Psychology do not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.
| Lethal Means |
| The Means Matter Campaign - This Harvard University School of Public Health website supports an initiative devoted to reducing suicide by reducing a suicidal person's access to lethal means, especially firearms, during a suicidal crisis. The Means Matters Website contains research summaries, practical strategies, slideshows, brochures, state survey results, state data, and program examples. |
| Lethal Means Safety/VA MIRECC - This VA website provides information, training and resources for anyone seeking to learn ways to increase Veterans’ safety by decreasing access to lethal means. |
| Counseling on Access to Lethal Means - Created by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), this free, asynchronous online course focuses on how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves. |
| Firearms Safety Counseling - In this seven-minute video, Dr. Craig Bryan demonstrates the firearm safety counseling approach used in brief cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (BCBT) with an at-risk patient. This approach is influenced by the core principles of motivational interviewing. |
| CDP Presents: Firearms and Suicide by Dr. Mike Anestis - This recorded webinar will explore the magnitude and nature of the relationship between firearms and suicide and will then provide a data-driven rationale for why initiatives focused on firearms (means safety) may represent the single most valuable tool available for producing substantial and sustainable reductions in the national suicide rate. |
| CDP Presents: Lethal Means Safety Counseling to Reduce Suicide Risk by Dr. Megan McCarthy - This recorded webinar will explain the importance of safely storing lethal means, how to discuss storage options and safety planning with a Veteran in crisis, and tangible options to facilitate lethal means safety such as firearm locking devices, medication disposal kits, and VA resources for both Veterans and their clinicians. |
| Suicide Postvention |
| Postvention Toolkit for a Military Suicide Loss - A comprehensive toolkit developed by the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO) to equip DoD personnel with a better understanding of how to support survivors navigating the practical and emotional concerns after suicide in a way that is sensitive to the unique issues associated with suicide. The toolkit provides guidance, education and resources for unit commanders and leaders, chaplains, casualty assistance officers, first responders, military investigators, non-clinical providers, suicide prevention program managers, and long-term casualty support coordinators. |
| Uniting for Postvention - A comprehensive website developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for postvention resources and support. Website provides specific resources for community, providers and workplace postvention efforts. |
| Books for Loss Survivors - A listing of books developed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) for suicide loss survivors providing information and guidance for coping with the aftermath of losing a loved one to suicide. |
| Staff Perspective: Suicide Postvention - Don’t Forget Clinician Survivors - In this blog entry, CDP's Dr. Lisa French discusses her experiences after a patient died by suicide. Dr. French also provides a few resources she has found usefiul. |
| Staff Perspective: Uniting for Postvention - In this blog entry, Dr. Sarra Nazem and CDP's Dr. Lisa French explore the Department of Veteran's Affairs' "Uniting for Suicide Postvention" resource website. |
| Postvention Handout - This PDF is a collection of several web resources, print guides, and survivors' websites. |
| Safety Planning |
| Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention website: Forms, training videos and other resources related to safety planning. |
| Safety Plan Template: A safety plan is a prioritized written list of coping strategies, sources of support and emergency resources to help patients effectively cope before or during a crisis. The safety plan is brief, easy to read, and written in the Service member or Veteran’s own words. |
| Military/Veteran Crisis Line: Information about and links to free, confidential crisis support that serves veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members and those who support them. |
| Safety Plan Quick Guide: VA quick guide for clinicians describing the steps to complete a comprehensive safety plan. |
| Virtual Hope Box (iOS/Apple) Virtual Hope Box (Android) – VHB is a smartphone app intended to help patients who are already engaged in treatment by helping to decrease the subjective experience of distress. The app facilitates adaptive coping and emotion regulation skills. The VHB uniquely applied technology to support behavior health earning the app the 2014 Department of Defense Innovation Award. When using the app, patients can personalize the content, including adding custom supportive media (i.e., pictures, songs, videos). The Virtual Hope Box has four main categories. First, the Distract Me area, users will have access to games that can shift their attention away from upsetting thoughts or experiences. Second, the Inspire Me area, patients will be able to read inspirational quote and can save meaningful quotes of their own as well. Next, relaxation and meditation exercises are found in the Relax Me area of the app. Finally, the Coping Tools area includes Coping Cards and an activity planner |
| What is a Crisis Response Plan - A brief YouTube video (4 min 32 seconds) explaining the steps to complete a Crisis Response Plan for suicide prevention. |
| Nomenclature |
| The Self-Directed Violence Classification System (SDVCS) - is a classification system of terms describing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Developed by VISN 19 (Rocky Mountain) MIRECC and adopted by the VA, it is consistent with the CDC Self Directed Violence Surveillance System. |
| Staff Perspective: Clarifying the Use of the Modifier “Interrupted” - Dr. Regina Shillinglaw expands upon the modifier “interrupted by self or other” from the SDVCS. |
| Guest Perspective: Recommendations on How to Best characterize and Document Suicide Risk - This blog by By Marjan G. Holloway, Ph.D., Major Matthew Nielsen, Psy.D., Lt Col Kathleen Crimmins, Ph.D., and Laura L. Neely, Psy.D.provides some practical recommendations when completing clinical documentation and when consulting with colleagues on suicide risk. |
| Staff Perspecitve: Committed….Successful….Failed: Shifting How We Talk About Suicide - Dr. Erin Frick looks at the importance of language and the difference that specific words can make when discussing suicide. |
| Suicide Risk Assessment |
| Guest Perspective: Targeting Suicide Risk, Not Other Psychological Disorders, Reduces Suicidal Behaviors - Dr. Craig Bryan discusses his research into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy's effect on reducing suicide attempts among soldiers. |
| CDP Presents: Key Elements in the Assessment and Management of Suicidality - In this webinar, Dr. Kate Comtois offers evidence-based solutions to the management and treatment of suicidality as well as clinical maxims from 25 years of treating suicidal individuals. |
| The Risk Stratification Table - is a tool designed to help providers make determinations regarding suicide risk levels with respect to severity and temporality and to aid in suicide risk management clinical decision-making. |
| Reports & Guidelines |
| Department of Defense Suicide Event Report & Annual Report on Suicide in the Military: The DoDSER is used for a variety of suicide behaviors including suicides, suicide attempts, and some other suicide related behaviors (e.g., deliberate self-harm or some cases in which only suicidal ideation is documented). Each Service conducts a professional review of records and conducts interviews where appropriate. |
| VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline: Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide (June 2019): The guideline describes the critical decision points in the management of Suicidal Risk Behavior (SRB) for suicidal self-directed violent behavior and provides clear and comprehensive evidence-based recommendations incorporating current information and practices for practitioners throughout the DoD and VA Health Care systems. |
| National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide 2018-2028 (2018): Responsibility for prevention of veteran suicide lies primarily with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VHA Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention is based on a public health framework, which has three major components: (1) surveillance, (2) risk and protective factors, and (3) prevention interventions. ... This report identifies challenges the VHA faces in each component of suicide prevention and discusses potential issues for Congress. A recurring theme is the need for the VHA to work in concert with other federal, state, and local government agencies; private for-profit and not-for-profit healthcare providers; veterans, their families, and their communities; and other individuals or organizations that might be able to help. Specific challenges in surveillance include timeliness of data, accurate identification of decedents as veterans, and consistent classification of deaths as suicides. Challenges in risk and protective factors research include a need for more collaboration and dialogue among agencies involved in suicide prevention and across other areas of public health (because suicide has some of the same risk and protective factors as other public health problems). Challenges in VHA suicide prevention interventions also include the need for more collaboration and dialogue, as well as an apparent gap between policy and practice, and misperceptions about mental illness and mental health care. |
| Military Resources for Suicide Prevention |
| Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO) provides advocacy, program oversight, and policy for Department of Defense suicide prevention, intervention and postvention efforts to reduce suicidal behaviors in Service members, their families and DoD civilians. DSPO strives to actively engage and partner with the Military Services, other Governmental Agencies, Non-Governmental Agencies, non-profit organizations, and the community to reduce the risk for suicide for Service members, their families, and DoD civilians. |
| Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE) collaborates across the Defense Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies to provide leadership and expertise, inform policy and drive improvements in psychological health outcomes. Their missions are to improve the lives of our nation's service members, veterans, and their families by advancing excellence in psychological health care, readiness, and prevention of psychological health disorders. The website has information about suicide statistics, as well as links assessments tools, information about means safety counseling, recommendations for treatment and policy guidance. |
| Military OneSource is a confidential Department of Defense-funded program providing comprehensive information on all aspects of military life at no cost to active duty, Guard and Reserve Component members, and their families. Military OneSource provides policy and programmatic information, helpful resources, products, articles and tips on numerous topics related to military life. Confidential services are available 24 hours a day by telephone and online. In addition, Military OneSource offers confidential call center and online support for consultations on a number of issues such as spouse education and career opportunities, issues specific to families with a member with special needs, health coaching, financial support, and resources. |
| The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Suicide Prevention Website has information on the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255, and press 1 or text to 838255) that Veterans and their loved ones can call 24/7/365 to receive free, confidential support. Veterans Chat offers a similar service, but via online chat. Both services can be used even if individuals are not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. The website also has information about suicide warning signs, self-assessment tools, suicide prevention resources, brochures and information sheets, and campaign material. Additionally, individuals can locate their local Suicide Prevention Coordinator and/or download and print information sheets, posters, or editable contact and event flyers. |
| Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention: The CoE is overseen by VA's Mental Health Services focusing on a public health approach to suicide prevention efforts in our nation's veterans. Rocky Mountain MIRECC had been a leader in the research and development of promising clinical interventions and innovative prevention strategies. The website provides a host of resources/information, clinical tools, training materials and more, including information about the Self-Directed Violence Classification System and the Therapeutic Risk Management assessment tool. |
| Make the Connection is a public awareness campaign by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) that provides personal testimonials and resources to help Veterans discover ways to improve their lives. |
| Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the 24/7 tragedy assistance resource for anyone grieving the loss of a military loved one, regardless of the relationship to the deceased or the circumstance of the death |