LivingWorks is heading to Portland, Oregon for the 2024 VA/DOD Suicide Prevention Conference from July 16-18.
Chris Allen, LivingWorks’ Air Force, Space Force, Navy and National Guard Suicide Prevention Manager says this conference is about building relationships – fostering the ones we have built and reconnecting, as well as finding new ways to work with new organizations.
“We are looking to show the community how LivingWorks can help them meet the needs and reach the goals of the National, DoD and VA suicide prevention strategies,” says Allen. “Our training provides a safe platform to bring people together and have a serious conversation. LivingWorks is one of the evidence-based programs that some branches of military are using and it’s creating a common language and a Network of Safety.”
Allen joined the US Navy in 1988, eventually joining the National Guard in 2006. He believes the military sector’s response to suicide prevention has come a long way.
“Back in the 80s we just really didn’t talk about suicide. In the 90s they started talking about it and our national strategies started to change,” says Allen. “Around 2012 we had one of the first national strategies for suicide prevention. It took the conversation to another level.”
There are several suicide prevention strategies that have been released over the past few years, including the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan, the White House Strategy for Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide, and the SPRIRC Report and Secretary of Defense’s Memo.
See how LivingWorks training programs address the different levels of these national strategies:
Who we’ve trained
Over the years, more than 11,000 service members have taken a LivingWorks T4T course – leading to 8000+ LivingWorks ASIST Trainers and 3600+ LivingWorks safeTALK Trainers who are service members.
There have been over 26,000 workshops conducted throughout the Department of Defense, leading to over 515,000 service members receiving suicide prevention skills training.
In 2023 alone, there were 11,000+ DoD service members trained in LivingWorks ASIST, and 29,000+ DoD service members trained in LivingWorks safeTALK.
Recently, the United States Air Force Academy published an article titled It’s Time to ‘ASIST’ our Wingmen – which highlights the benefits of LivingWorks ASIST and the importance and impact of suicide prevention skills training.
VA/DOD Suicide Prevention Conference
LivingWorks Executive Vice President of Innovation, Dr. Peter Gutierrez, and North American Director for Suicide Prevention, Bryan Gibb, will be presenting on July 18 in session room A105-106, sharing the Impact of Trainer Mentoring on Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Outcomes for the Coast Guard.
To learn more about the 2024 VA/DOD Suicide Prevention Conference, head to their website.
To find out about LivingWorks suicide prevention skills training programs for military members and/or veterans, head to our training page.
