The purpose of TOGETHER WASHINGTON – WDVA SUICIDE PREVENTION SUMMIT is to update suicide prevention stakeholders on current status of suicide prevention legislation, the Statewide Plan on SMVF Suicide Prevention, and Governor’s Challenge Implementation Plan Strategies. The aim is to create solidarity and collaboration among suicide prevention services/agencies and tribal communities, and learn about the causes of suicide, raise awareness of available intervention services, suicide prevention models and share promising best practices. (Scroll Down For Agenda)

9:00-9:15 | Welcome & Logistics 

Tom Hove, MSW, Training Manager, Veterans Training Support Center

David Puente, Jr., Deputy Director, WDVA

9:15-9:25 | Opening Remarks 

Governor Jay Inslee

9:25-9:40 | Keynote: VA Suicide Prevention Leadership 

Matthew A. Miller, PhD, MPH

Director for National VA Suicide Prevention Program, VHA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention      

9:40-10:00 | WA State Suicide Prevention Update

Representative Tina Orwall , MSW, 33 District

10:00-10:15 | Break

10:15-10:45 | Models of Engagement

1. Fallen Outdoors - Amy McNealy, WA Team Lead

https://thefallenoutdoors.com

2. Vet Peer Corps – Bryan Bales, Program Manager

https://www.dva.wa.gov/veterans-their-families/counseling

andwellness/veteransconservation-corps-program/veterans-peer-corps

3. Vet Rites – Ryan Mielcarek, Executive Director or Representative

https://www.veteranrites.org

4. Nineline – Tony Dayton, Housing Manager

https://nine9line.org

5. National Alliance to End Veteran Suicide (NA2EVS) - Rod Wittmier, President, Founder

https://www.na2evs.org

10:45-11:45 | Suicide Prevention Among Service Members, Veterans and Families in WA State (Open Session)

Lizzie Cayden, Codie Garza, Xinyao Degrauw 

11:45-12:00 | Workshop Eval/Closing 

1:00-2:30 | LEARN Training: Veterans Learn Suicide Prevention (Optional)

Bryan Bales, Vet Peer Corps Program Manager & Codie Garza, Suicide Prevention Coordinator 

ZOOM LINK

Topic: TOGETHER WASHINGTON – Veteran Suicide Prevention Summit

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Meeting ID: 975 4031 6659

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Meeting ID: 975 4031 6659

Find your local number: https://wdva.zoom.us/u/aqUkFI8T0

9:00-10:00 | Breakout Sessions

Suicide Prevention Efforts – Federal and State

A. Open Forum on Suicide Prevention

Lizzie Cayden MSc., CPP, DOH Suicide Prevention Program Supervisor, Moderator

B. VA Response to Suicide Prevention

Larry Pruitt, Ph.D, VA Puget Sound, Director, Suicide Prevention

C. WDVA Response to Suicide Prevention

Peter G. Schmidt, Psy.D. CWP Director, & Eric Burns, Lead Peer Specialist

D. Psychological Health Center of Excellence Response to Suicide Prevention

Tim Hoyt, Ph.D

10:00-10:15 | Break

10:15 -11:30 | Lived Experience Panel

Individuals with lived experience and clinicians on a panel talk through experiences and the treatment process.

Moderator: Peter G. Schmidt

Lived Experience - Tony Dayton, Nineline, Housing Manager

Lived Experience – Zach North, UW Forefront, Program Coordinator Safer Homes, Suicide Aware

Lived Experience – Ryanne Lindberg, MSW student, Horses Guiding Humans

Larry Pruitt, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, VA, Director, Suicide Prevention

John Casteele, LMFT, LMHC, WDVA War Trauma Outpatient Provider 

Kate Comtois, PhD, MPH, Professor, Center for Suicide Prevention and Recovery (CSPAR)

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington

11:30-11:45 | Closing Remarks

Alfie Alvarado Ramos, Director, WDVA

11:45-12:00 | Evaluation

ZOOM LINK

Topic: TOGETHER WASHINGTON – Veteran Suicide Prevention Summit 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://wdva.zoom.us/j/97540316659?pwd=UG1uakQzdVNkdVZjWGFQNk5NcGl0dz09

Meeting ID: 975 4031 6659

Passcode: 611604

One tap mobile

+12532158782,,97540316659# US (Tacoma)

+16699006833,,97540316659# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location

    +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

    +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

    +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

    +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

    +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Meeting ID: 975 4031 6659

Find your local number: https://wdva.zoom.us/u/aqUkFI8T0

CEUs Available: 1.5

Course Description:

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.

Detailed Agenda:

1. Introduction and public health issue of suicide
2. Covers risk factors and experiences specific to veterans
3. Suicide prevention skills using Forefront’s LEARN model
4. Includes imminent harm by lethal means (such as firearms)
5. Prevention approaches practice
6. Gives participants an opportunity to practice suicide prevention skills with their peers

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain suicide's impact and understand why people die by suicide
2. LEARN suicide prevention skills
3. Integrate prevention approaches into your personal and professional life.

You are invited to a Zoom meeting. 

When: Jul 13, 2021 01:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) 

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://wdva.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJElduqgqjguHN39N6lIBC2Bk22Wz6M9y_7p

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.