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FREE Public Training Library

Whether you're a healthcare professional looking for ways to help support your Veteran patients or a Veteran family member looking to support your family through their mental health concerns, we have created a library of resources for you.

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  • Self-paced

  • Easy to start/stop

  • Under 2 hours each

  • Certification upon completion

Available Courses:

Keep scrolling for summaries of each course

Custom & In-person Trainings Available Upon Request

Contact for custom trainings:

Joanne Purdy - Program Director

jpurdy@nchponline.org

Samantha Bunker, Health Trainer-Educator, teaching an in-person QPR course at TLCR

NEW!

Suicide Prevention Practice Scenarios

This is a training that uses the VA tool Operation S.A.V.E. to address and support individuals going through a mental health crisis. We discuss suicide statistics, risk factors and warning signs, as well as ways to provide comfort and validation while also encouraging and expediting getting help. Five different practice scenarios are presented with opportunities to think through responses and ways to provide support and help for the fictional character. This training is ideal for behavioral, social or mental health providers looking for additional practice or for any person looking for practice opportunities to be prepared for a suicidal crisis.

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This training is appropriate for all audiences over the age of 18.

NEW!

Avoiding Burnout

This training discusses burnout, specifically in the behavioral health field. We discuss what exactly is burnout, examples of burnout, symptoms of burnout and actionable steps to avoid burnout and/or recovery when it is realized burnout is being experienced. We discuss what happens when burnout goes unresolved and how that can lead to additional health issues such as suicidal ideation. Basic information on suicide prevention and getting help for suicidal individuals is included. 

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This training is appropriate for all audiences over the age of 18.

NEW!

How to Identify a Suicidal Crisis

This is a brief training (15 minutes) that covers all the basics you need to know for identifying a suicidal crisis and getting the person help. We discuss realistic expectation for suicidal ideation, risk factors & warning signs, as well as what getting help for that person looks like. This is a great intro training for those with very little time. Supplementing with additional trainings that go into more detail would be encouraged. 

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This training is appropriate for all audiences over the age of 18.

NEW!

Moral Injury

This training video discusses moral injury. Topics include: how to identify moral injury, common sources of moral injury, examples of moral injury, how it relates to suicidal behavior, the similarities and differences between PTSD and moral injury plus resources and education on suicide prevention.

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This training is appropriate for all audiences over the age of 18.

Suicide & The Workplace

This training discusses suicide as it relates to the workplace. We discuss the economic impact suicides have on the country, suicide rates as they relate to specific careers as well as veterans in the workforce and how that impacts suicide rates. We discuss risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs while also discussing action steps organizations and companies can take to improve the mental health of their employees and reduce the risk of suicide for this population. Basic 101 suicide prevention is covered as well as additional resources and suggestions for continued training. This video is appropriate for all individuals over the age of 18.

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This training is appropriate for all audiences over the age of 18.

Online Resources & Apps for Military Families

This training discusses available applications and online resources for members of our armed forces, veterans and their families. Apps present a unique opportunity to provide easy access to social support and communication, access to healthcare, and self-improvement opportunities focusing on behavioral changes and/or mental health care. In theory, access to certain applications can play a role in reduction of suicidal ideation in special populations. This training explores the relationship between the two and provides information on apps encouraged for the use among those affiliated with our military.

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This training is appropriate for all audiences over the age of 18.

Deployment & the Military Family

This training discusses the many challenges military families face as they prepare and experience deployment. We discuss the stages of deployment, the stressors and challenges often faced during deployment and after deployment as well as the preparations that can be made to help offset the stress. We discuss how the deployment experience ties to trauma and how unresolved and unaddressed trauma has the greatest impact on military families who experience deployment. We explore the relationship between trauma and suicide and give a brief overview of what you can do to encourage suicide prevention in your community.

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This training is appropriate for all audiences over the age of 18.

Is it PTSD? Or something else?

This training explores PTSD and how it relates to suicide. We discuss basic facts and figures surrounding PTSD, symptoms often associated with PTSD and the things required for a diagnosis. We discuss what type of traumas can result in PTSD, what factors either increase or decrease a person's chances of developing PTSD following a traumatic event and why Veterans are at a higher risk for developing PTSD compared to the average civilian. Additional mental health problems are also addressed as well as what can happen when PTSD is left untreated. Information on suicide risk factors & warning signs are included as well as resources for getting help when you encounter a suicidal individual.

 

This training is appropriate for all audiences over the age of 18.

Military Children & Suicide Prevention

In this training, we discuss mental health issues among the children of our Veterans and Active-Duty men and women.  A heavy emphasis is placed on the main stressors that majority of military children/families experience. We draw connections to suicide prevention among military children and how that directly relates to suicide prevention among members of our armed forces and Veterans. This training also focuses on suicide education and prevention for our Veterans and service members. We discuss risk factors, warning signs and ways to get help, including additional military family resources both on and off base.

 

This training is appropriate for all audiences, but is suggested for ages 18 and above.

Pathways to Suicide & Prevention

This training explores the various challenges people experience throughout their lives that can have the potential to lead them down the pathway to choosing suicide. We explore potential solutions and resources for individuals struggling with those specific problems and provide pathways that do not have to include suicide. We also provide basic information on what to do if you or someone you know finds themselves already on the path to suicide.

 

This training is appropriate for all audiences over the age of 18.

Reduction of Access to Lethal Means (RALM): Friends and Family Edition

This training is similar to our RALM training in that we discuss ways in which we can reduce the access to lethal means for suicidal individuals including firearms, poison/medication, ligatures & sharps and others. We touch on Safety Plans and how to implement a Safety Plan with a professional for the protection of the suicidal individual. We discuss roles each person plays (professional vs. supporting loved one) in keeping their loved one safe.

 

This training is appropriate for Veterans, their loved ones/social support, and suicidal individuals.

Reduction of Access to Lethal Means (RALM)

This training discusses access to various lethal means and the ways in which we can reduce the access to those for suicidal individuals including firearms, poison/medication, ligatures & sharps and others. This training specifically discussed the lethality of different means. We touch on Safety Plans and how to implement a Safety Plan with a professional for the protection of the suicidal individual.

 

This training is appropriate for the average healthcare professional, it is NOT suggested for Veterans, their support systems or suicidal individuals in general.

Veteran Suicide Prevention

This training discusses concepts and theories behind why Veterans specifically are at such a higher risk for suicide when compared to the average civilian. We discuss Thomas Joiner’s theory and identify the needs of this population to prevent suicide. Prevention tactics are discussed and suggestions for helping Veterans get the help they need is included.

Operation S.A.V.E.

This training gives individuals the tools to act with care and compassion when encountering a suicidal individual. It gives step by step instructions on what they should do, when they should do it and when to seek additional professional help. We discuss suicide basics such as risk factors, warning signs and more. Participants should feel confident in their ability to assist a suicidal individual at the conclusion of this training.

Supporting Your Veteran Loved One

This training focuses on the specific actions the social support and loved ones surrounding a struggling Veteran can do to provide social, physical, emotional and mental support. We discuss basic suicide prevention awareness and specifics steps they can take to protect their loved one. We discuss ways to get additional support when needed.

Suicide Awareness & Prevention

This training is a Suicide 101 training. All the basics surrounding suicide education are presented: statistics, risk factors, warning signs and more. We also touch specifically on Veteran suicide. This training is for overall awareness about suicide and basic education for the average civilian.

 

Appropriate for workplaces, community facilities, and more.

Military Culture & Suicide Prevention (Healthcare Providers)

In this training we discuss basic military 101 and educate participants on general military knowledge. Ethos is discussed and specific military culture and healthcare is also addressed. Statistics surrounding healthcare missteps and suicide are explored with suggestions and information on avoiding those missteps to save lives.

 

This training is good for healthcare professionals who work with Veterans frequently or who have little-to-no training on military culture and/or ethos.

Women Veterans & Suicide Prevention

This training discusses the lifespan of the average woman Veteran and the unique struggles she faces when compared to her male counterpart. We discuss statistics and data that indicate the discrepancy between the two genders and how females are at a higher risk for a variety of things such as mental health issues, substance abuse/misuse, Military Sexual Trauma, and suicidal ideation. We also discuss methods and tactics specifically targeting women Veterans to address this issue.

Guilt Trauma & Suicide Prevention

This training focuses on guilt trauma, the ways in which it can interfere with an individual’s life and how it can lead to suicidal ideation. We discuss the importance of addressing the guilt head-on and not avoiding the feelings and how doing this with a mental health professional is important. We discuss what can happen if guilt is not addressed and the ways in which we can cope with guilt in a healthy manner. We also discuss what to do if you DON’T feel guilt but think you should.

 

This training is appropriate for all audiences.

Grief & Loss

This training focuses on the many ways in which individuals experience loss and how they can grieve those losses. We focus specifically on Veterans—the common losses they face, how they handle those losses and the healthy ways in which they can grieve. We discuss the process of grief and the health coping methods that can accompany that grief.

 

This training is appropriate all audiences.

Overcoming Communication Barriers

This training discusses common communication issues and barriers we experience when communicating. We discuss communication vehicles, communication styles and barriers associated with different types of communication.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

This training discusses the tactic of working towards behavioral change by using motivational interviewing techniques. We discuss the ins and outs of MI, what it entails, how to appropriately and effectively utilize the technique. We discuss how this can be used with suicidal individuals to help them towards a path of recovery and safety.

QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training

This training focuses on the QPR Gatekeeper method & is often associated as "the CPR class for mental health". This course can only be provided in person. You can request more information and to have this training done for your agency by contacting our Program Director under the custom trainings section at the top of this page.

Community Mobilization 

In this training we discuss the concept behind community mobilization in targeting a specific social service issue. We explore how to implement a Community Needs Assessment, how to create partnerships and how to effectively implement a community mobilization outreach plan. We focus specifically on Veteran Suicide Prevention opportunities and services.

Testimonials:

Samantha Bunker

Health Educator-Trainer

I’m a Midwest transplant to the southwest.  I enjoy spending time with my husband, two kids, and two dogs, especially our nightly evening walks. I’m a big Chicago Cubs fan, enjoy playing fantasy football, and would rather spend time in the mountains than on the beach. I love learning things. 

My favorite thing about working for NCHP is knowing that the smallest things that I do every day are having the biggest impact on our Veterans and their families. I like supporting Veterans because I know how much it’s needed. I’ve seen firsthand the devastation of Veteran suicide and how lack of awareness and education contributes to that. I like knowing I have the ability and resources to educate others in the hopes that one day we can end suicide. 

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