Lethal Means:

Website: The Means Matter Campaign -  Harvard University's School of Public Health 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. 

Website: 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.

Training: 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.

Let’s Talk About Your Guns Podcast: This podcast was created by the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS). It offers
practical, non-judgmental ways to talk about gun safety in challenging situations.

Department of Defense Lethal Means Safety Suite of Tools: A range of lethal means safety resources created by the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO) for military leaders, suicide prevention managers, and military community support
providers.

VA Safe Firearm and Medication Storage Information: Resources and information to support lethal means safety with veterans.

Video:  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.

CDPP Archived Webinar: Firearms and Suicide by Dr. Mike Anestis - This presentation 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.

CDPP Archived Webinar: Lethal Means Safety Counseling to Reduce Suicide Risk by Dr. Megan McCarthy - This course 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:

Toolkit:  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. 

Website:  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. 

Resource: 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. 

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. 

Mobile App: Virtual Hope Box (VHB) – is 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 

Video:  What is a Crisis Response Plan - A YouTube video (4 min 32 seconds) explaining the steps to complete a Crisis Response Plan for suicide prevention.

Nomenclature

Resource: 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. 

Suicide Risk Assessment

CDP Presents Archived Webinar: Key Elements in the Effective Management and Resolution of Suicidality by Dr. Kate Comtois - This presentation addresses these tensions and offers evidence-based solutions to the management and treatment of suicidality as well as clinical maxims from 25 years of treating suicidal individuals.

Resource: 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 and Guidelines:

Defense Suicide Prevention Office Reports on Suicide in the Military: This site includes quarterly and annual reports on suicide in the military, as well as additional policy and strategy documents.

VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline: Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide (2024): The VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline provides an evidence-based framework for evaluating and managing care for patients at risk for suicide. It provides clinical practice recommendations and is intended for use by VA, DoD, and community providers and other health care team

National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide 2018-2028 (2018): 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.

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.

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) : iThe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Suicide Prevention Website has information on the Veterans Crisis Line (988 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 (https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat/) offers a similar service, but via online chat. Talk, text, and chat 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 VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator.