MIRECC / CoE

This month's lecture will explore the latest evidence on the relationship between IPV and suicide risk, highlighting key warning signs and practical strategies that can be applied in VA settings. Participants will learn approaches to strengthen collaboration and better provide comprehensive, lasting support for Veterans.

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding and better support Veterans through informed, coordinated care.

What You’ll Learn:

• At least three risk factors for suicide related to IPV
• Prevention recommendations for VA settings
• Strategies for interdisciplinary collaboration

Matteo Vatalaro, LCSW

Matteo Vatalaro is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and one of two Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Coordinators at the Eastern Colorado Health Care VA Medical System. Matteo has over a decade of experience in behavioral health and trauma-informed care, supporting vulnerable populations. Over the last five years, Matteo has specialized in treating Veterans who struggle with the use and/or experience of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), as well as those who have experienced sexual assault within the Veteran population. Matteo has developed and facilitated VA IPV screening initiatives and interventions, implemented changes to local IPV policy, and regularly educates staff on trauma-sensitive practices for IPV. Matteo continues to be passionate about advancing collaborative, evidence-based approaches to improve the safety and well-being of Veterans, their families, and communities.

Aimee Edwards-Hunter, LCSW

Aimee Edwards Hunter is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and one of two Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Coordinators at the Eastern Colorado Health Care VA Medical System. She specializes in trauma-informed practice, interpersonal violence prevention and intervention, and program development. Prior to her work with the VA, she served as a social worker for the Department of the Army in both clinical and leadership roles, where she developed and implemented programs addressing military sexual trauma, intimate partner and family violence, and co-occurring trauma-related disorders. She also provided support and training on trauma-informed care, resilience, and burnout prevention for helping professionals and command teams. Her work focuses on survivor-centered approaches to trauma, including examining the structural and systemic factors that contribute to interpersonal violence and exploitation.

This month’s lecture will explore recent findings on the associations between SDOH and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The presentation will discuss how these social factors may contribute to Veterans’ well-being by increasing vulnerability and limiting access to crucial resources and support systems. Participants will examine the relationship between SDOH and mental health outcomes for Veterans, while also discovering intervention strategies to mitigate suicide risk.

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of how social and environmental factors influence suicide risk for Veterans.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Define the social determinants that are strongly associated with increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs).
• Describe the social determinants that confer protective effects against STBs.
• Discuss clinical, research, and policy implications of these findings, including strategies to mitigate suicide risk.

Dr. Peter Jongho Na, MD

Dr. Peter Jongho Na is a staff psychiatrist at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine whose research focuses on suicide prevention, addiction, and social determinants of mental health among Veterans and other populations. He has published more than 120 peer-reviewed papers in leading psychiatric journals and has contributed to national research efforts aimed at advancing suicide prevention. Dr. Na is also the author of two best-selling books on mental health in South Korea.

Interpretations about when a patient’s level of risk calls for involuntary intervention (e.g., a police welfare check, involuntary hospitalization, etc.) vary from provider to provider. Using an individualized risk-benefit analysis can help guide these difficult decisions in a patient-centered way.

This month’s lecture will explore how to conduct a clinical risk-benefit analysis and will discuss common risks and benefits of involuntary acute risk interventions. The presentation will share clinical interventions that may reduce the need for future involuntary interventions or lessen the impact when they are necessary.

Don’t miss this opportunity to build your clinical decision-making skills and learn how to navigate these complex challenges.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Conduct and document a risk-benefit analysis for an involuntary intervention for suicide risk.
• Identify three common risks associated with involuntary interventions for suicide risk.
• Describe one way to discuss the potential for future involuntary interventions with a patient.

Dr. Meredith Sears, PhD

Dr. Meredith Sears is a clinical psychologist at the Rocky Mountain Veterans Affairs (VA) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention. She also serves the VA as a consultant with the VA’s Suicide Prevention 2.0 Dialectical Behavior Therapy Training Program. Prior to joining the MIRECC, Dr. Sears was a Suicide Prevention Coordinator with the San Francisco VA Healthcare System.

Dr. Hal Wortzel, MD

Dr. Hal Wortzel is a licensed physician board certified in General Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry and certified in Neuropsychiatry. Dr. Wortzel’s clinical focus is the neuropsychiatry of trauma and its sequelae, including aggression and self-directed violence. He co-directs the VA’s Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program.

This month’s lecture provides participants with a clear understanding of the VCL, including what it is, how to access it, and the range of crisis services it provides. The presentation will also introduce the programs that continue supporting Veterans after a crisis call and highlight the evidence based ways VCL helps reduce distress, suicidal ideation, and suicidal urgency. By the end of the lecture, participants will have a comprehensive picture of how VCL functions across the continuum of crisis care to support Veterans, Service members, and those who support Veterans and Service members in crisis

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of this vital component of VA’s comprehensive suicide prevention program.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Identify what the VCL is and how to access it.
• Describe VCL’s crisis services.
• Describe VCL’s programs that continue supporting Veterans after a crisis call.
• Explain multiple ways VCL demonstrates effectiveness in decreasing distress, suicidal ideation, and suicidal urgency.

Christopher Watson, Ph.D.

Dr. Christopher Watson oversees the Veterans Crisis Line, the nation’s largest crisis line, and helps lead the day-to-day operations of VA’s Suicide Prevention Program and the implementation of key national suicide prevention strategies and guidelines. A VA psychologist since 1993, he has served in diverse clinical, administrative, and leadership roles across inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings. Dr. Watson has held multiple senior leadership positions, including ACOS for Behavioral Health and VISN Chief Mental Health Officer, and is active in several professional organizations. He is also a dedicated mentor and the recipient of numerous national awards, with completion of several major VHA leadership development programs.

This month’s lecture provides an overview of moral injury and how to identify it in clinical settings. Attendees will learn about research that supports ACT-MI as an intervention and best practices for applying the model in practice. Participants will also learn how ACT-MI processes can help Veterans develop a new context for their moral pain so they can live their values even in the presence of moral pain.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about this aspect of suicide prevention.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Define moral injury and describe a conceptual framework for identifying it in clients
• Explain data supporting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Moral Injury (ACT-MI)
• Describe the intervention framework for ACT-MI
• Discuss how ACT processes are activated to change a client’s relationship with their moral pain

Dr. Lauren M. Borges, PhD

Dr. Lauren M. Borges is a Clinical Research Psychologist and Director of Training at the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention in Aurora, Colorado, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Her work focuses on advancing research and clinical training to improve suicide prevention efforts and support Veterans impacted by moral injury and related mental health concerns.

This month’s lecture will explore the unique impact suicide loss has on providers, while also highlighting the benefits postvention policies and practices can have in mitigating these impacts.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with this often-overlooked aspect of suicide prevention.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Discuss prevalence and impact of suicide loss
• Describe common reactions to suicide loss and how this impacts providers as suicide loss
• Describe post-traumatic growth and healing that can occur through postvention
• Identify available postvention resources

Dr. Megan Harvey, PhD

Dr. Megan Harvey is a psychologist with the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide Prevention and has served the VA for 19 years. She is a member of the Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program, providing postvention services and leading program evaluation efforts. She is on the technical assistance team for the national Suicide Risk Identification Strategy and contributes to nationwide implementation efforts.

Georgia Gerard, LCSW

Georgia Gerard is a licensed clinical social worker with the Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Colorado. She has been with the VA since 2012 providing clinical services to Veterans and serving as a clinician on research studies focused on Veterans at risk for suicide. She also provides implementation support for national VA suicide prevention programs and serves as a consultant on the VA’s Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program.

This month’s lecture will explore peer specialist–facilitated interventions and their scope of practice, highlighting first-hand perspectives from peer specialists alongside findings from VHA research on outcomes delivered by peer specialists.

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of this integral part of suicide prevention efforts in VHA.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Describe the benefits of peer support services found in VHA research studies that focused on peer specialist-delivered interventions for Veterans.
• Provide four examples of parameters for peer specialists’ scope of practice to clarify what peer specialists do and do not do in their work with Veterans.
• Discuss the role of peer specialists in VHA suicide prevention efforts through one peer specialist sharing examples of their work.
• Identify four resource documents that guide the practice of peer support services and supervision of peer support staff in VHA.

Brian K. Gonzales, CPS

Brian K. Gonzales is a retired Navy Veteran of 20 years and Certified Peer Specialist with the Suicide Prevention Program at the VA Pacific Island Healthcare System. Brian is committed to fostering hope, resilience, and recovery to individuals navigating mental health challenges, empowering them to reclaim their stories and build meaningful lives. His approach is rooted in empathy, active listening, and a belief that every person has the capacity for growth and transformation. With a deep understanding of the healing power of connection, Brian works collaboratively with Veterans, care teams, and community partners to promote wellness, reduce stigma, and advocate for inclusive, person-centered care. Based in Honolulu, Brian brings a local perspective to his work, honoring the diverse cultural backgrounds and values of the Veterans he serves.

Patricia J. Sweeney, Psy. D.

Dr. Patricia Sweeney is a clinical psychologist and the National Director of Peer Support Services in VHA’s Office of Mental Health. Tricia has been in her current role since June 2020. In her prior job as the Education Director for the VISN 1 New England Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Tricia worked closely with the first National Director of Peer Support Services for over 12 years on the types of projects that Tricia continues to do now regarding the development of national policies, nationally standardized position descriptions and hiring guidance, developing national trainings for peer support staff and peer support supervisors, writing reports for Congress and other stakeholders, and developing infrastructures and resources to support the ongoing evolution of the peer specialist mental health care profession across VHA.

This month’s lecture will provide education and training about how providers can partner with chaplain services to help Veterans navigate religion and spirituality in the context of their care.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how a Chaplain’s scope of practice can aid in addressing questions of religion and spirituality for Veterans, and how to engage in Interdisciplinary Teams with chaplains.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Describe chaplains’ scope of practice
• Identify the suicide prevention chaplain at their hospital and when to make a referral
• Discuss religion or spirituality within the scope of provider practice.

Rachel Mikaelsen, M.Div., BCC-MI

Chaplain Rachel is the Chief Chaplain for VA Western Colorado Health Care System in Grand Junction, CO. She is building new and innovative programming for mental health, women’s clinics, intimate partner violence, caregivers, and grief/bereavement. Prior to coming to Grand Junction, CO, she was at West Palm Beach VA where she served as a full-time suicide prevention/postvention Chaplain providing comprehensive spiritual care to Veterans with a high risk for suicide and those “upstream” through individual care, groups with an emphasis in moral injury and stabilization skills, and community engagement projects. She is also serving on several national VA program implementation teams to help further the professionalism of chaplaincy. She worked at Boise VA as the mental health and hospice chaplain, and completed a two-year specialization in mental health chaplaincy at Portland VA. CH Mikaelsen received a Master of Divinity from Iliff School of Theology, Denver, CO., and is currently working on a Doctorate of Integrated Mental Health Chaplaincy from Vanderbilt Divinity School and is a PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning.
She served as an Army Reserve Chaplain from 2008-2016 serving with the 244 Engineering Battalion, Aurora, CO. as the Battalion Chaplain and 104th Training Brigade, Aurora, CO. as the Deputy Brigade Chaplain. She has worked as a private consultant to non-profits as an interfaith program developer and educator creating custom tailored Veteran care programs for communities of faith and meaning in the greater Chicago area. She also served as a subject matter religious expert and strategic training asset for various government contractors in Colorado and the West Coast. As a Veteran with a deep passion and commitment her personal, professional, and spiritual missions are to educate, facilitate, and guide all who are on a journey of healing.

This month’s lecture explores the broader context of suicide risk considerations for these Veterans, using their first-hand perspectives and experiences about prevention to inform techniques for tailoring care to AANHPI Veterans.
Don’t miss this opportunity to discover effective methods for providing impactful care to this disproportionately at-risk group of Veterans.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Discuss considerations for lethal means safety with AANHPI Veterans
• Describe factors that impact disclosure of, and help-seeking for, suicidality among AANHPI Veterans
• Indicate suicide prevention considerations for AANHPI Veterans.

Lindsey Monteith, PhD

Dr. Lindsey Monteith is a psychologist and Investigator at the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center in the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System. Dr. Monteith leads research focused on advancing suicide risk and prevention in different Veteran populations, with the goal of tailoring Veteran suicide prevention initiatives to be patient-centered, trauma-informed, and responsive to the needs and contexts of different Veteran groups.

Evan Polzer, MA

Mr. Evan Polzer is a Health Sciences Specialist within the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention. His work utilizes qualitative research methods to learn from the lived histories of Veterans to develop and optimize suicide prevention strategies. Using this expertise in qualitative methods, he has assisted in the creation of decision tools, websites, public service campaigns, and other public-facing materials focused on suicide and injury prevention. His research focuses on patient-centered and trauma-informed approaches to suicide prevention among women Veterans, Veterans experiencing homelessness, and other underserved Veteran populations. Mr. Polzer’s academic background is in anthropology, and he was trained in mixed methods research.

This month’s lecture examines approaches for addressing this gap by reviewing the evidence base for such communication strategies, identifying lessons learned, and discussing best practices.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your suicide prevention messaging by understanding how these theoretical constructs and conceptual frameworks can inform evidence-based, effective messaging for Veteran populations at risk for suicide.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Identify the key principles of creating effective messaging for at-risk populations
• Describe methods for amplifying messaging during encounters with Veterans at risk for suicide
• Apply strategies to tailor messaging for diverse Veteran patient populations.

Elizabeth Karras, PhD

Dr. Karras specializes in health communication, with her research focused on the design/use of evidence-based communication strategies for use in public health approaches to suicide prevention. She has led funded studies to design and test messages to reach and engage high-risk, hard-to-reach groups, including Veterans separating from the military, Veterans experiencing co-occurring substance use and mental disorders, and suicidal populations.

This month’s lecture examines the role shame and betrayal play in the presentation of MST among male and female Veterans. The lecture will outline strategies for empowering Veterans who have experienced MST to seek medical care and mental health services. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of MST to more effectively evaluate other risk factors and identify treatment options.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Define MST and its qualifications in comparison to acute Sexual Assault
• Discuss risk factors that increase risk for suicide in Veterans with MST
• Outline referral sources for extra support

Rosemarie Stauffer, LCSW

Rosemarie “Rose” Stauffer, LCSW, is one of two MST coordinators at Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, covering the Denver area VAMC and surrounding clinics.She is part of the PTSD Clinical Team at ECH, providing outpatient EBP therapy to Veterans with histories of MST, combat, and other lifetime traumas. Rose has been working at VA’s for 14 years, nine of those years in PCT programs. In addition, Rose has worked in the SUD program and the VA homeless programs. Rose graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with her MSW in 1999 and has been working in mental health services throughout her career. She facilitates Courage groups for women survivors of MST and other lifetime sexual violence.

Dr. Keighlynn Adlof, PsyD

Keighlynn Adlof, PsyD, is one of the two MST Coordinators at the Eastern Colorado Healthcare System (ECHS) and covers the Colorado Springs area and southern clinics. Dr. Adlof graduated from CLU, in California, in 2018 with her Doctorate in Psychology. She has been with the VA since 2017, starting with her internship at the Grand Island, Nebraska VA, and completed a Women’s Health Fellowship at the Milwaukee VA. Dr. Adlof has been with ECHS since 2020 and is currently a part of the PTSD clinic, where she provides EBPs for PTSD, including PE, CPT, EMDR, and IRT.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Describe the rates of Veterans Suicide Deaths.
• Define the term “Lethal means safety counseling.”
• Discuss methods for limiting access to lethal means.
• Describe results of a recent pilot to implement lethal means safety counseling into community health systems

Bryann DeBeer, PhD

Bryann DeBeer, Ph.D., is the Director of the VA Patient Safety Center of Inquiry – Suicide Prevention Collaborative, a Clinical Research Psychologist at the VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Her research focuses on three interrelated topics: 1) understanding risk and protective factors for suicide; 2) translating these factors into novel interventions; and 3) leveraging implementation science to improve suicide prevention in organizations. She and her team won the VHA 2021 National Community Partnership Challenge and received a commendation from VA Secretary McDonough for their work in Veteran suicide prevention. She was also named the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Psychologist of the Year in 2025.

This presentation will explore acute and chronic risks at all three levels of severity (low, intermediate, and high). It will also highlight clinical suicide risk stratification tools and training that providers can utilize to inform safety needs and clinical care.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Identify benefits of suicide risk stratification once risk has been identified.
• Describe importance of assessing and evaluating both acute and chronic risk.
• Examine differences between low, intermediate and high risk at acute and chronic risk levels and how that informs best risk mitigation interventions.

Bridget Matarazzo, PsyD

Dr. Matarazzo is the Director of Clinical Services at VA’s Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention. She is Co-Director of VA’s Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program and leads a team that provides implementation support for multiple national VA suicide prevention programs, such as REACH VET and the VA Suicide Risk Identification Strategy. She is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine.

Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and enhance the care you provide to those who have served.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the prevalence of suicidal self-directed violence among LBGTQ+ Veterans.
• Elucidate knowledge of methods of suicide and lethal means safety considerations for LGBTQ+ Veterans.
• Describe considerations for a patient-centered approach to suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ Veterans.

Julie A. Kittel-Moseley, Ph.D.

Dr. Kittel-Moseley is an epidemiologist and health science specialist at the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention with over 10 years of experience in suicide prevention research and research with Veterans. Their research primarily focuses on identifying non-mental health risk factors for suicide, particularly suicide prevention among those with serious medical conditions, such as cancer, as well as sexual and gender-diverse Veterans. Identifying these risk factors can help to inform upstream suicide prevention efforts.

Ashley M. Griffith, Ph.D.

Dr. Griffith is an Advanced Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow who joined the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention in August 2022 after completing her Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology at East Carolina University. Her research interests have centered around understanding barriers and facilitators to accessing mental health care among service members and Veterans. As a member of the Advancing Suicide Prevention for undeRserved vEterans (ASPIRE) Lab, she is exploring barriers and facilitators to engaging in suicide prevention strategies among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) Veterans, with an emphasis on transgender and gender diverse Veterans. Other interests include how the impact of rurality, region, and safety behaviors influence firearm ownership, suicide risk, and prevention.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your clinical approach and improve outcomes for Veterans living with pain while earning free CEUs.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Describe the role of pain as a potential driver of suicide risk in the Veteran population.
• Demonstrate increased knowledge of and ability to engage with current effective practices and evidence-based approaches to prevent suicide for Veterans with chronic pain.
• Report increased awareness of prevention, intervention, strategies, tools, and programs that will enhance comprehensive healthcare for Veterans with chronic pain.

Suzanne McGarity, Ph.D.

Dr. McGarity is a Clinical Psychologist with experience across many VA settings, including clinical services, consultation, research, and national strategy implementation. She completed her postdoctoral work in the Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program (CPRP) at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, FL, and later transitioned to staff psychologist with both clinical and research roles focused on PTSD, TBI, and chronic pain. In 2016, Dr. McGarity joined the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention in Aurora, Colorado. She provides technical assistance as a VA Risk ID and SPED implementation team member and consultation services for the Rocky Mountain MIRECC’s local and national SRM. Dr. McGarity is also a consultant and subject matter expert in Safety Planning. She supervises postdoctoral fellows in group-based safety planning services on the Rocky Mountain Regional VA’s inpatient psychiatric unit.

This webinar will examine the inclusion of rTMS in the 2024 revised VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for the Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide. Although currently classified as a somatic treatment with "insufficient evidence to recommend for or against," emerging research highlights its potential in addressing conditions often linked to suicide risk, especially depression.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Describe the basic mechanisms and common indications for rTMS.
• Review the basics of rTMS for depression, including treatment targets (i.e., brain regions) and the differences between standard rTMS and accelerated protocols.
• Discuss the CPG for Suicide Prevention current recommendation for rTMS in the context of the emerging evidence base of the role of rTMS in suicidality.

Dr. Elizabeth Fenstermacher, MD

Dr. Fenstermacher is the founder and medical director of the CU Medicine Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Clinic, as well as a deep brain stimulation programmer for psychiatric patients at the University of Colorado. In addition to Dr. Fenstermacher's clinical roles, she has created and supervises a resident and fellow rotation in TMS at the University of Colorado. She lectures regionally and nationally on TMS.

FINVET, the National Veterans Financial Resource Center, has developed a one-stop website with vital resources designed to simplify the financial journey of Veterans and their families. In this webinar, you’ll discover how empowering Veterans with the tools to save more, earn more, and manage their money more effectively not only enhances financial stability but also builds lasting well-being.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Describe how financial well-being is a social determinant of suicide and other adverse outcomes in Veterans.
• Review research on the impact of Veteran status on the Veteran’s financial health.
• Discuss how financial education can effectively improve the financial health of Veterans.
• Access the resources available on the FINVET SharePoint site and website.
• Describe how to connect Veterans with vital financial resources to plan for their financial future, build credit, pay for basic needs, and reduce or eliminate debt.

Dr. Eric Elbogen, PhD, ABPP (Forensics)

Dr. Elbogen is the Director of the VA National Veterans Financial Resource Center (FINVET) and Professor of Psychiatry at Duke University. Trained as a clinical psychologist, he started running financial education groups at VA facilities 17 years ago, and since then, has done research developing financial education curricula for Veterans and examining how financial well-being relates to lower risk of homelessness, violence, and suicide.

The acronym S.A.V.E. helps people remember the important steps involved in suicide prevention:
S: Signs of suicidal thinking should be recognized.
A: Ask the most important question of all.
V: Validate the Veteran’s experience.
E: Encourage treatment and expedite getting help.

This lecture is recommended for anyone who works with Veterans and their caregivers.

Following this live webinar, participants will be able to:

• Discuss elements requested by caregivers in VA suicide prevention training.
• Describe updates to VA S.A.V.E. Training incorporated into the VA Caregiver Support Program curriculum.
• Identify key facts about Veteran suicide.

Margaret Featherston, LCSW

Margaret Featherston, LCSW, has been working for caregivers of Veterans in the VA Caregiver Support Program since 2014 at both the facility and national level. Margaret also had the good fortune of working in both the Post-9/11 Military2VA (M2VA) Case Management and Homeless Programs. She spearheaded the efforts of William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans’ Hospital (Madison, WI) to be recognized as a “Dementia Friendly Hospital” while in the role of Caregiver Support Coordinator. Having mission-driven work to achieve for the benefit of Veterans and their caregivers is her professional passion.

Following this live webinar, you will be able to:

• Describe community inclusion and participation.
• Discuss the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.
• Identify how inclusion and participation are associated with physical, cognitive, and mental health and wellness outcomes.
• Discuss how suicide can be impacted based on Joiner’s Interpersonal Theory of Suicide.

Mark Salzer, Ph.D.

Dr. Salzer is a psychologist and Social and Behavioral Sciences professor at Temple University’s College of Public Health. He is the Director of the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities, a rehabilitation research and training center funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. Previously, Dr. Salzer worked as a psychologist at the Alvin C. York VAMC in Murfreesboro, TN, and the VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the Philadelphia VAMC. He has played a national role in psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery centers, as well as local recovery coordinator and peer support initiatives in VA positions. He is also an internationally-recognized expert on community inclusion and participation.

Following this live webinar, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate increased awareness and knowledge about the implementation of VA’s SP 2.0 Clinical Telehealth program.
• Describe the inclusion criteria for the SP 2.0 Clinical Telehealth program.
• Identify three evidence-based treatments within the SP 2.0 Clinical Telehealth program.
• Summarize the preliminary short-term Veteran outcomes from the SP 2.0 Clinical Telehealth program.

Jessica A. Walker, PhD, LP

Dr. Walker is a licensed psychologist with 15 years of service with VHA. She currently serves as the National Suicide Prevention Clinical Telehealth Coordinator, overseeing an initiative that provides virtual evidence-based psychotherapy interventions to Veterans with a history of suicidal self-directed violence behavior. Her previous VA work has included coordinating the National Problem-Solving Training (PST) program and the VISN 6 Telemental Health (TMH) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Hub. A graduate of Lehigh University, she has authored and co-authored over 20 publications and presentations focusing on topics including psychotherapy supervision, problem-solving training, multiculturalism, and telemental health.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss suicide risk in Veterans experiencing criminal-legal involvement compared to Veterans not experiencing such involvement.
2. Describe assessment strategies to effectively identify Veterans experiencing criminal-legal involvement.
3. Employ effective intervention strategies to mitigate the risk of criminal-legal involvement and suicide.

Emily Edwards, PhD

Dr. Emily Edwards is a licensed clinical psychologist in New York State and Director of the VISN 2 MIRECC Clinical Core. As a scientist-practitioner, Dr. Edwards embraces the integration of clinical practice and research. Her work focuses on themes of suicide, justice involvement, military-to-civilian transition, the mental health of military Veterans, and transdiagnostic interventions for Veterans affected by these difficulties. She has authored over 50 publications, received over $3M in grant funding to date, and provided consultation services to local problem-solving courts, the Veteran Benefits Association, and the NYC Department of Corrections, among others.

• VA’s SAVE (Signs of suicidal thinking, Ask questions, Validate the experience, Encourage and Expedite treatment)training brings the community into Veteran suicide prevention.
• Tribal communities have time-honored approaches and practices grounded in culture, tradition, and Indigenous knowledge that can help prevent suicide.

The Tribal-VHA Partnerships in Suicide Prevention Toolkit provides guidance for interweaving these different but also often complementary approaches to suicide prevention. The Toolkit includes strategies and step-by-step guides for building partnerships and re-envisioning VA suicide prevention approaches with Tribal communities.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the general characteristics of Native Veterans and the communities where they live.
2. Identify critical components of VA facility/team readiness for Tribal partnerships.
3. Describe key elements of the four steps in creating a plan for initiating or strengthening a Tribal community partnership.
4. Identify the critical elements of the VA SAVE training to adapt into a SAVE Conversation culturally appropriate for a Tribal community.
5. Assess the differences between implementing a VA SAVE training and an adapted SAVE conversation.

Carol E. Kaufman, PhD

Dr. Kaufman is a population scientist with the Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Salt Lake City (VA Office of Rural Health) and a professor at the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. With 25 years of experience in research and public health practice with Tribal communities, she is a social demographer with a strong interest in the cultural and community context of mental health and well-being, health services, and suicide prevention. A significant part of Dr. Kaufman’s work centers on Native American Veterans’ issues — efforts she has grounded within a strong community-engaged framework, working closely with Tribal communities to enhance partnership and collaboration in all aspects of her work.

Following this live webinar, participants will be able to:

• Increase their familiarity with the new 2024 CPG for assessment and management of suicide risk, including pertinent changes.
• Implement the new CPG for the assessment and management of patients at risk for suicide in their clinical practice.

Bridget Matarazzo, Psy.D.

Dr. Matarazzo is the Director of Clinical Services at VA’s Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention. She is the Co-Director of VA’s Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program and leads a team that provides implementation support for multiple national VA suicide prevention programs, such as REACH VET and the VA Suicide Risk Identification Strategy. She is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Hal S. Wortzel, M.D.

Dr. Wortzel is a forensic neuropsychiatrist at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC, where he serves as Director of Neuropsychiatric Consultation Services and Co-director of the National Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program. He is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado. He serves as the Michael K. Cooper Professor of Neurocognitive Disease and as Faculty for the Program in Forensic Psychiatry. Dr. Wortzel maintains a private practice in Forensic Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology and has consulted on numerous criminal and civil cases. Areas of research/scholarship interest include suicide risk management, aggression, and suicide in the context of PTSD and TBI, brain injury litigation, and the application of emerging neuroscientific tools to the legal arena.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Describe the role and structure of peer support in suicide prevention.
• Discuss the benefits of peer support and its impact on the suicide prevention team
• Review peer support methods utilized to assist Veterans with treatment engagement.

Crystal Tabor

Crystal Tabor is a Lead Peer Specialist who mentors a team of 12 peers at Eastern Colorado VA Health Care System. A Post-911 Veteran who served first as a PATRIOT missile crewmember and then as a combat medic in the U.S. Army, Crystal uses her lived experience to also provide direct care to Veterans both on the Suicide Prevention Team and on the Golden CBOC Mental Health Clinic Team. Crystal has worked for the VA for 16 years, starting in Austin, Texas, and now at Eastern Colorado, where she plans to continue her career for the foreseeable future.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Summarize the impact of biases on patient care.
• Describe the prevalence of suicide amongst diverse populations
• Identify considerations in clinical care for diverse populations

Shannon Brown, LPC

Shannon Brown is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist and has been a Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the Erie, PA, Medical Center for the last seven years. She's a member of the Erie VAMC Diversity and Inclusion Committee and on the subject matter expert panel for the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. She possesses extensive expertise in public speaking and presenting on topics related to mental health, suicide prevention, and culture.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Identify how supporting loss survivors is a suicide prevention strategy.
• Describe how grief after suicide loss differs from grief after loss from natural causes.
• Identify differences between acute grief and Prolonged Grief Disorder.
• Summarize treatment options to support Suicide Loss Survivors.

Erin Higgins, LCSW, LAC

Erin Higgins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Addictions Counselor (LAC), having received her MSW from Boston University. She joined the Rocky Mountain MIRECC in 2020 after a decade of clinical and leadership experience in VA substance use and mental health treatment settings. She currently serves as the Postvention Lead and is a consultant for the SRM Consultation program. Her clinical interests include suicide postvention, the intersection of substance use disorders with suicide risk, and using technology to improve suicide risk screening and interventions.

Following this live lecture, participants will be able to:

• Discuss current research specific to suicide among homeless Veterans, including prevalence and drivers of risk.
• Review ongoing VA Programming to prevent suicide among homeless Veterans.
• Discuss novel initiatives to identify elevated risk and prevent suicide among homeless Veterans.

Ryan Holliday, Ph.D.

Ryan Holliday, Ph.D., is a Clinical Research Psychologist and the Director of Training at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC. He is also an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. His clinical and research interests focus on understanding the intersection of trauma, psychosocial stressors (such as homelessness and justice involvement), and mental health. He is interested in translating these findings into evidence-based practice.

Shawn Liu

Shawn Liu is the Director of Communications for the VHA Homeless Programs Office, where they are responsible for developing strategic communications that enhance efforts to prevent and end homelessness among Veterans and their families. They are also the host of Ending Veteran Homelessness, a monthly podcast that offers a look into our nationwide efforts to help Veterans experiencing and at risk of homelessness. Their previous work with VA included supporting VA's efforts to house more than 40,000 homeless Veterans in 2022, integrating VA homeless programs into the department's broader suicide prevention efforts, and implementing racial equity within VA's homeless programs (Internal to VA).

Kenny Bruemmer

Kenny Bruemmer is a Program Analyst with the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) National Program Office and serves as the suicide prevention lead for the Homeless Programs Office. He has worked in VHA as a social worker since 2008 in mental health, homeless programs, and Caregiver Support.

Evan Polzer

Evan Polzer is a Health Sciences Specialist within the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention. His work utilizes qualitative research methods to learn from the lived histories of Veterans to develop and optimize suicide prevention strategies. Using this expertise in qualitative methods, he has assisted in creating decision tools, websites, public service campaigns, and other public-facing materials focused on suicide and injury prevention. His research focuses on patient-centered and trauma-informed approaches to suicide prevention among women Veterans and Veterans experiencing homelessness.

Following this live webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe suicide prevention in Primary Care
• Discuss available resources identified in an environmental scan
• Identify clinical implications and future research

Jennifer L. Sullivan, PhD

Jenny Sullivan, PhD, is an Associate Director and Investigator at the Center for Innovation in Long-Term Services and Support (LTSS COIN) at VA Providence Healthcare System and is an Associate Professor (Research) at Brown University School of Public Health in the Health Services Policy and Practice Department. Dr. Sullivan has been a health services researcher in the VA for 20 years and has received grant funding from VA HSR&D and QUERI on several studies and evaluations. The core areas of Dr. Sullivan’s research have been assessing program implementation and quality of VA institutional and noninstitutional LTSS. More recently, her work has focused on geriatric mental health and suicide prevention for older Veterans. Her expertise includes mixed methods, qualitative research designs, and implementation science. She is a Researcher-in-Residence this year within the Office for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP) & Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center (SMITREC).

Kelly O’Malley, PhD

Kelly O’Malley is a clinical psychologist at the VA Boston Community Living Center. She provides mental health care in sub-acute rehab, long-term care, and hospice and palliative care. She also supervises clinical psychology interns and fellows. Kelly’s research focuses on examining and understanding the presentation of PTSD in later life and at the end of life and the implementation of trauma-informed care in VA medical settings. She recently received a VA Career Development Award to evaluate CLC staff and Veteran experience with trauma-related symptoms in CLCs and developed a CLC and Veteran specific model of trauma-informed care.

Following this live webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify the potential role of ERPOs in suicide risk management
• Describe resources to determine details pertaining to ERPOs in different jurisdictions
• Describe facilitating ERPOs (or not) in a way that is broadly consistent with the tenants of therapeutic risk management

Hal Wortzel, MD

Dr. Wortzel is a forensic neuropsychiatrist at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC, where he serves as Director of Neuropsychiatric Consultation Services and Co-director of the National Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program. He is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado. He serves as the Michael K. Cooper Professor of Neurocognitive Disease and as Faculty for the Program in Forensic Psychiatry. Dr. Wortzel maintains a private practice in Forensic Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology and has consulted on numerous criminal and civil cases. Areas of research/scholarship interest include suicide risk management, aggression, and suicide in the context of PTSD and TBI, brain injury litigation, and the application of emerging neuroscientific tools to the legal arena.

This live, knowledge-based virtual presentation for interprofessional health care teams will help improve confidence and foster greater collaboration between providers and Veterans. A review of the Safety Plan mobile app will also be provided. This program will help bridge the knowledge gap for providers when it comes to the Safety Planning process and working with Veterans who are at increased risk for suicide.

Colleen Becket-Davenport, PsyD

Colleen Becket-Davenport is a clinical psychologist at the National Center for PTSD, Dissemination and Training Division. She is an Implementation Facilitator and the Communication and Training Lead for the Tech into Care Program. She is also a consultant for the PTSD Consultation Program. As part of her role, Dr. Becket-Davenport delivers trainings on VA mental health apps and works with health care teams to incorporate apps into care. She received her Psy.D. from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA.

Georgia Gerard, LCSW

Georgia Gerard received her MSW from the University of Denver and is a licensed clinical social worker with the Mental Illness, Research, Education Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center. Her background is in the assessment of suicide risk in Veterans and suicide risk management best practices. She joined the Rocky Mountain MIRECC in 2012 where she serves as a consultant on the VA’s Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program and provides implementation and technical assistance support for VA national suicide prevention programs.

Following this live, knowledge-based webinar, clinicians and health care teams will be able to:

• Describe background knowledge on the association between mental health and relationship health
• Describe the link between relationship functioning and self-directed violence
• Identify potential strategies for attending to relationship factors within assessment and interventions with veterans

Danielle M. Weber, PhD

Danielle M. Weber, PhD is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Georgia. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Durham VA Medical Center and her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her area of research expertise centers on the functioning of romantic relationships, including how relationships shape and are shaped by individual health challenges. She is also an active clinician specializing in couple therapy for relationship distress as well as individual health challenges. As the child of two Army parents, she is interested in how the characteristics of Veterans’ relationships impact their individual mental health.

Following this live, knowledge-based webinar, clinicians and health care teams will be able to:

• Describe rates of suicidality among Black individuals.
• Recognize inherent bias within the Mental Health System directed towards Black individuals.
• Identify potential commitments for change.

Danielle L. McDuffie, MA, PhD

Danielle L. McDuffie, MA, PhD, is a current postdoctoral fellow at the Durham VA Health Care System in Durham, NC. Dr. McDuffie is originally from a small town called Scotch Plains, NJ, and completed her undergraduate studies at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Both her MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology (with a specialty in Clinical Geropsychology) were completed at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL, where her research interests centered on minority aging, specifically related to Black older adults. Dr. McDuffie completed her internship at the Durham VA Health Care System. Broadly, her clinical and research interests include minority aging, religion, spirituality, grief, bereavement, and Positive Psychology. When she's not working, Dr. McDuffie enjoys spending time with her dog Cocoa, engaging in "family Facetimes," spending time with loved ones, and watching true crime docuseries.

Jessica Fraser, PsyD

Dr. Jessica Fraser is a proud Baltimorean (from Baltimore, MD) who attended Johns Hopkins University for undergrad and Loyola University Maryland for her graduate studies in Clinical Psychology. She completed her internship at the Federal Medical Center of Carswell in Ft. Worth, Texas and began her early career as the Addictions and Trauma Recovery Services Clinical Coordinator at Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville, MD. Her areas of expertise include Racial Identity development, Racial trauma, Racial Identity development as a protective factor, Comprehensive Trauma, Substance Use, Reentry, Supervision, Grief, and Bias. Currently Dr. Fraser serves as a Staff psychologist in the Baltimore PCT. Additionally, Dr. Fraser serves as the Chair of the Mental Health Diversity committee within the Baltimore VAMC and is an active part of the training program within the Baltimore VAMC.

Following this live, knowledge-based webinar, clinicians and health care teams will be able to:

• Discuss and describe suicidal thoughts, behaviors and prevention strategies among people of different cultures, races, and ethnicities.
• Describe cultural factors that impact the experience of depression and depression-related behaviors among people from marginalized and underserved communities.
• Identify research-based directions and strategies for suicide prevention rooted in culturally informed care for all people.

Charlotte McCloskey, PhD

Dr. Charlotte McCloskey, Sicangu Lakota, is the Local Recovery Coordinator and a staff psychologist at the KCVA. She is active in American Psychological Association, Division 18: Psychologist in Public Service, VA Section and chair for Psychologists In Indian Country Section, and a former member of Committee for Women in Psychology. She is a co-coordinator for the national call for the Psychologists of Color Special Interest Group for the Association for VA Psychology Leaders, and a member of the Society of Indian Psychologists and the Society of American Indian Government Employees. Most recently, she held a detail that was collaboration of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Office of Rural Health and the Rocky Mountain MIRECC focused on efforts to better serve Native American Veterans. She is also a Subject Matter Expert and Co-Chair for the OMHSP DE&I Resource SharePoint project. She received her masters and doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia

Following this live, knowledge-based webinar, clinicians and health care teams will be able to:

• Discuss background literature on suicide mortality rates among rural and urban populations.
• Describe the overall trends in suicide mortality rates among rural and urban VA patients.
• Identify best practices for coding of race and ethnicity data using VA electronic medical record data.
• Display suicide mortality rates among demographic sub-populations of VA patients.

Brian Shiner MD, MPH

Brian Shiner is a psychiatrist and preventive medicine physician who has been conducting research in the areas of PTSD and suicide prevention at the White River Junction VA Medical Center since finishing residency in 2009. He is currently the associate chief of staff for research at White River Junction, as well as associate professor at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine. Over the last four years, Brian collaborated with the Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-White River Junction to complete a series of studies on the rural-urban disparity in death by suicide among VA patients. He will be presenting his findings from this work.

Following this live, knowledge-based webinar, clinicians and health care teams will be able to:

• Describe the Whole Health System;
• Discuss the relationship of purpose and self-care as protective factors;
• Identify at least one strategy for connecting with the Veteran's mission, aspiration and purpose;
• Describe resources related to Whole Health and Suicide Prevention

Dr. Jennifer Patterson, PhD, ABPP

Dr. Jennifer Patterson is the National Director for Integrated Services with the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP). In this position she serves as a member of the OMHSP Executive Leadership Team and has direct oversight for the integration of mental and behavioral health care into medical settings and the integration of Whole Health across mental health programs. Dr. Patterson is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and is board certified in Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology via the American Board of Professional Psychology. She is committed to values-driven leadership, investing in people and cutting-edge innovation, and translating strategic vision into measurable healthcare transformation. In support of health and well-being, Dr. Patterson enjoys fishing and hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains and spending time with her husband, mischievous parrot and 2 exuberant dogs.

Dr. Kathy Hedrick, PhD

Dr. Kathy Hedrick is a Senior Consultant with the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation (OPCC&CT). In this position, she leads the work for Whole Health in Oracle Cerner integration, the Coding and Tracking team, and is Chair of the Whole Health Clinical Care Task Force. She works as the primary contact for OPCC&CT for the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Dr. Hedrick is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and, prior to joining OPCC&CT, worked for several years as a psychologist in VHA focusing on trauma processing with Veterans who have experienced Combat and Military Sexual related traumas. Dr. Hedrick lives and works out of North Carolina and, in support of her health and well-being, is currently training for her fifth half marathon.

Following this live, knowledge-based webinar, clinicians and health care teams will be able to:

• Describe the situation of military caregiving in the United States
• Identify the unique characteristics and factors associated with the health and wellbeing of military caregivers, specifically mental health
• Explain the phenotypes of distress and the association with suicidal ideation in caregivers of wounded, ill and injured Veterans

Roxana E. Delgado, PhD, MSH

Dr. Roxana Delgado is a health scientist and an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine, General and Hospital Medicine Division. Dr. Delgado developed the "Military and Veteran Caregiver Portfolio," a research platform that addresses the short and long-term health-related outcomes of caregivers of wounded, ill, and injured service members and Veterans. Her research focuses on predictors and health outcomes in military caregivers, with an emphasis on the long-term trajectory of disease and illness. Dr. Delgado's professional experience was inspired by her firsthand experience as the wife of a combat wounded veteran and Purple Heart Recipient. She is a nationally recognized speaker, author, researcher, and avid advocate for traumatic brain injury and caregiving. She co-founded the TBI Warrior Foundation, where she volunteers her time to improve access and care for traumatic brain injuries. She serves on various advisory boards to inform national policies and programs for Veterans and caregivers. A 2015-16 Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow representing the State of Texas. She is passionate about what she does. Her goal is to dedicate her life and profession to contributing to science and helping wounded, ill and injured Veterans and their caregivers discover ways to thrive.

This month, Maurice Endsley, Ph.D., and Charlotte McCloskey, Ph.D., will provide information to help providers explore the impact of historical trauma on contemporary grief and loss recovery with a focus on BIPOC Veterans.

Following this live, knowledge-based webinar, clinicians and health care teams will be able to:

• Provide overview of suicide risk in the context of bereavement and loss for BIPOC Veterans
• Define historical trauma and describe how it influences contemporary reactions to grief and loss in BIPOC Veterans
• Share resources to further mitigate suicide risk in the context of bereavement and historical trauma

Maurice Endsley, Ph.D.

Dr. Endsley obtained a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Missouri — St. Louis with an emphasis in Behavioral Medicine. He has specialized training in health psychology in primary care settings and psycho-oncology. He is currently serving as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Manager for VA Northern California. His interests include multicultural psychology with a focus on the impact of coping with race-based stress on mental and physical health. He was co-lead for a VA Innovation and VA Office of Health Equity supported project to spread a race-based stress and trauma group-based intervention to support Veterans of Color. He is also a Subject Matter Expert and Co-Chair for the OMHSP DEI Resource SharePoint site. He has provided numerous trainings and talks on the impact of racism on mental and physical health, including interventions to improve health equity.

Charlotte McCloskey, Ph.D.

Dr. Charlotte McCloskey, Sicangu Lakota, is the Local Recovery Coordinator and a staff psychologist at the KCVA. She is active in American Psychological Association, Division 18: Psychologist in Public Service, VA Section and chair for Psychologists In Indian Country Section, and a former member of Committee for Women in Psychology. She is a co-coordinator for the national call for the Psychologists of Color Special Interest Group for the Association for VA Psychology Leaders, and a member of the Society of Indian Psychologists and the Society of American Indian Government Employees. Most recently, she held a detail that was collaboration of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Office of Rural Health and the Rocky Mountain MIRECC focused on efforts to better serve Native American Veterans. She is also a Subject Matter Expert and Co-Chair for the OMHSP DE&I Resource SharePoint project. She received her masters and doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia with an emphasis on teaching and multicultural psychology. Her professional/clinical interests are focused on mentorship, consultation, recovery/resiliency, trauma, and grief and loss.

Following this live, knowledge-based webinar, clinicians and health care teams will be able to:

• Identify why talking about a suicide attempt in the family is important for kids in that family
• Describe when and how family members should talk about the attempt
• Discuss ideas on how much information to share by age group that is developmentally appropriate
• Describe ways adults can support a child after a suicide attempt in the family

Christie Machan, LCSW

Christie Machan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide Prevention with the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System. She has worked with Veterans and their families across a range of clinics and settings through her 13 year career in the VA Healthcare System. In her current role, Ms. Machan works with the VISN 19 MIRECC Clinical Core Team on projects including; National Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program, Postvention Consultation, and the Risk ID Implementation Team. She is passionate about supporting Veteran's wellbeing by nurturing their parental and partner relationships to build up protective factors and reduce suicide risk.

Aaron Murray-Swank, PhD

Aaron Murray-Swank, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist in the Virtual Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) in the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System. He has worked with Veterans and their families across a range of clinics and settings throughout his 19 year career in the VA Healthcare System. Dr. Murray-Swank is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and an Affiliate Faculty Member at Regis University in the Division of Counseling and Family Therapy. He has authored or co-authored over 20 professional publications, including work on family interventions for serious mental illness and suicide postvention.

Following this live, knowledge-based webinar, clinicians and health care teams will be able to:

• Examine CPG population- and community-based interventions related to gatekeeper training
• Understand a brief overview of existing literature published
• Explore various models of gatekeeper trainings and key components to the models
• Identify and access information on gatekeeper trainings for various settings

Cicely Burrows-McElwain, LCSW-C,

Cicely Burrows-McElwain, LCSW-C, joined the VA Suicide Prevention Office in the Community-Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention Technical Assistance and Resource Center Director in 2021. Prior to her current role Cicely served as the Military & Veteran Affairs Liaison at SAMHSA and has over 2 decades practice experience in community settings.

Kendra "Kenner" Barnes, LCSW

Kendra "Kenner" Barnes, LCSW, joined the VA Suicide Prevention Program Office in December 2021 as part of Community Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention as the Program Manager for VISN 20. She has been with the VA since 2011. Previous experience includes supporting Veterans through SPC, PCMHI, M2VA and PACT/SCI programs.

John McQuaid, PhD

John McQuaid, PhD is Associate Chief of Staff for Health Equity, San Francisco VA Health Care System as well as Vice Chair, Department of Psychiatry of the Weill Institute of Neuroscience at University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Eric Elbogen, PhD, ABPP

Dr. Eric Elbogen, PhD, ABPP is a Clinical Psychologist at the VA and Professor of Psychiatry at Duke University. He ran a money management group at the VA for over a decade, and has been Principal Investigator of a randomized controlled trial of a recovery-oriented money management intervention for Veterans and of a nationally representative longitudinal survey of Veterans identifying a link between financial strain and suicidal ideation. Dr. Elbogen and colleagues also demonstrated a link between financial strain and suicide risk in the US general population and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

James Haug, MD

James Haug received his MD from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He completed his residency in psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina, serving as a chief resident in his final year. He returned to Colorado and completed a fellowship in addiction psychiatry at the University of Colorado. He is currently the Medical Director for Substance Use Disorder Clinics for Eastern Colorado Healthcare System. He is involved in medical student education and is the psychiatry liaison for the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships at the Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC.

Erin Higgins, LCSW, LAC

Erin Higgins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Addictions Counselor with the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention. She serves as Postvention Lead and is a consultant for the Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program. Prior to joining the MIRECC in 2020, she served as Program Manager for the Outpatient Substance Use Disorders Clinic at the Rocky Mountain Regional Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. Her clinical interests include suicide postvention, the intersection of substance use disorders with suicide risk, and using technology to improve suicide risk screening and interventions.

Pamela Steadman-Wood, PhD, ABPP

Dr. Steadman-Wood is a board certified Geropsychologist. She is Chief of General Outpatient Mental Services at the Providence VA Medical Center and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University's Alpert Medical School. Her primary areas of interest are in the development and implementation of integrated geriatric behavioral health programs, geropsychology training and evidence-based psychotherapy competency training.

Kristen Dillon, PsyD, ABPP

Dr. Dillon is a board certified Geropsychologist practicing in Hospice and Palliative Care at VA Bedford. She is the Geriatric Mental Health Champion for VISN 1. She provides care to Veterans and families in hospice, serves as a member of the palliative care consult team, manages the bereavement program and facilitates the hospice and palliative care rotation for psychology trainees.

Ryan Holliday, PhD

Dr. Holliday is a Clinical Research Psychologist at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center for Veteran Suicide Prevention and an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. His clinical and research interests focus upon understanding the intersection of trauma, psychosocial stressors and mental health. He is further interested in translating these findings into evidence-based practice.