Community Partnerships for Preventing Veteran Suicide
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Release Date: 09/25/2021
135 Student Veterans and the Meaning of Life
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Searching for the meaning of life is only natural. A meaningful life leads to a sense of purpose, self-esteem and psychological well-being. How do life experiences that are unique to Veterans alter these feelings? In this episode, Dr. Edgar Villarreal speaks with VA researcher Dr. Adam Kinney and Army Veteran, Jeff Moe to find out. They discuss how Kinney’s research, on meaning in life among Student Veterans with combat exposure, relates to Moe’s life experiences. His journey from military to student life led to supporting others as a Student Veteran Outreach Coordinator with the VA VITAL...
info_outline
PTSD and Exercise: finding recovery through fitness
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
It is well known that exercise can improve both physical and mental health. But what about preventing and treating PTSD in Veterans? In this episode, Dr. Edgar Villarreal speaks with researcher Dr. Daniel Reis and Army Veteran Adam Holt. Through the lens of both research and lived experience they explore exercise as an alternative treatment option for Veterans living with PTSD. Reis shares the findings of his article that reviewed research on the effect of exercise on PTSD symptoms in Veterans. And Holt shares his own journey from struggling with trauma, substance use and suicide attempts to...
info_outline
Homelessness, Veterans and Suicide Risk: Research Priorities
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Veterans experiencing homelessness face unique challenges that increase their risk for suicide. In this episode, Dr. Edgar Villarreal talks to our guest Dr. Ryan Holliday about the need for research focused on this population. They discuss an article that explores research priorities identified by experts and Veterans with lived experience in suicide prevention and homelessness who came together in a recent VA meeting. Today's conversation covers reaching Veterans with the services they have access to, upstream interventions and the need for tailored approaches for subgroups such as women and...
info_outline
Suicide Risk Among Veterans with TBI, ALS and Stroke
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Acquired neurologic conditions can lead to functional challenges and changes that might increase risk for suicide. In this episode, Dr. Jordan Wyrwa and Dr. Lisa Brenner discuss three recent research papers on suicide rates among Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Stroke. They talk about the similarities and differences of how these conditions impact mental health and offer guidance to providers on suicide risk screening and lethal means safety. Learn more from the resources below. Transcript: Articles Discussed: Lethal Means...
info_outline
An Observational Study of Cannabis and PTSD
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Several US states have legalized medical cannabis as a treatment for PTSD. While many people with PTSD use cannabis products, questions remain about the effectiveness.
info_outline
Community Partnerships for Preventing Veteran Suicide
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Dr. Bryann DeBeer discusses the VA Suicide Prevention Collaborative, a program that partners with community agencies toward the shared goal of Veteran suicide prevention.
info_outline
Beyond Prevention: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Life
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Suicide prevention is about more than stopping just one suicidal event – it’s also about addressing emotional pain and building a meaningful life. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – ACT – is a therapy approach that can help go beyond prevention. In this episode Dr. Sean Barnes, a clinical research psychologist, talks with guest host Dr. Debbie Sorensen about his research on ACT for Life, a new treatment designed to help Veterans respond effectively to suicidal thoughts using ACT.
info_outline
Transition from Military to Civilian Life and Suicide Risk with Mark Reger and Brady Stephens
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
The transition from military to civilian life can be an important time for service members. For many, it is an exciting life transition. For some, however, it can be a time of high stress, and even crisis. In this episode, Dr. Bridget Matarazzo, Clinical Research Psychologist and Director of Clinical Services at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention, talks to Dr. Mark Reger and Brady Stephens about their research on this important topic!
info_outline
The relationship between PTSD and Suicide with Nasi Bahraini and Ryan Holliday
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
The relationship between PTSD and suicide is important to understand if we want to prevent suicide among veterans and military service members. So what is the relationship between PTSD and suicide? Well, according to suicide and PTSD researcher Dr. Ryan Holliday…. It’s complicated!
info_outline
Social Connection with Dr Kimberly Van Orden
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Social connection is a key aspect of suicide prevention in older adulthood. Dr. Kimberly Van Orden, who researches isolation and connection in older adulthood, talks to Dr. Lisa Brenner about her background in suicide prevention and older adulthood, benefits and vulnerabilities associated with aging, and why social connectedness is especially important in later life.
info_outlineShort Takes Episode 130 Transcript
The VA is known as a leader in suicide prevention, offering innovative approaches to preventing Veteran suicide. And yet, many Veterans are not enrolled in VA care. It is therefore imperative that community organizations that serve Veterans have the resources and knowledge to help with veteran suicide prevention. The Patient Safety Center of Inquiry - Suicide Prevention Collaborative is an innovative partnership with community agencies that serve Veterans, such as homeless programs, veteran service organizations, private mental health clinics, and legal services.
In this episode, Dr. Bryann DeBeer, Clinical Research Psychologist at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide Prevention, tells Adam Hoffberg about the Suicide Prevention Collaborative, which recently won the 2021 National VHA Community Partnership Challenge, and why building community partnership is essential for Veteran suicide prevention.
About Bryann DeBeer: Dr. Bryann DeBeer is the Director of the VA Patient Safety Center of Inquiry – Suicide Prevention Collaborative, a Clinical Research Psychologist at the VA Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention, and a Visiting Associate Professor at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. DeBeer received her B.A. in psychology and fine arts from New York University in 2003. She completed her doctoral training in clinical psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2012, and obtained her clinical license in 2014. She joined the Rocky Mountain MIRECC in 2020. Dr. DeBeer has extensive experience in longitudinal assessment, treatment development, and clinical trials, particularly related to PTSD, suicide risk, and complex comorbidities in Veterans. Dr. DeBeer serves as a panel member of the VA Clinical Science Research and Development Data Monitoring Committee.
Resources:
Article about the Suicide Prevention Collaborative
Press Article about the 2021 National VHA Community Partnership Challenge Award