Suicide Prevention Webinar

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Suicide in the military community is a topic which senior military leadership, and their spouses,have openly addressed in recent weeks.

TAPS will be hosting a suicide prevention webinar tomorrow from 12:00 - 1:00 EST tomorrow. Details below:


TAPS HOSTS MILITARY-FOCUSED SUICIDE PREVENTION WEBINAR

Training to focus on high-risk taking behaviors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 13, 2010

Washington DC- A continuing education and training webinar detailing military-specific suicide indicators and prevention by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) will air Thursday, January 21, 2010 from 12-1:00 pm EST.

All military personnel, Department of Veterans Affairs personnel, and Give an Hour professionals with a valid work email address are invited to attend free of charge (continuing education credit info below).

Entitiled "Suicide Prevention: Subintentional Suicide, High-Risk and Indirect Life-Threatening Behaviors," the training will offer critical insights to anyone seeking the latest information on preventing suicides in the military.

"It is critical to recognize and acknowledge when self destructive behaviors are present," said M. David Rudd, PhD/ABPP, Professor of Psychology and Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Science at the University of Utah. "Issues of high-risk behaviors and activities are often recognized as signs of trouble but perhaps missed in the military community."

Clinical signs of sub-intentional suicide vary widely; from chronic medical neglect to excessive speeding - they are physically harmful acts that stop short of intentional suicide. High-risk taking can be a maladaptive response to numb feelings of depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, or grief. They may also be a symptom of more severe psychiatric and personality disorders.

"Adrenaline junkies or high-risk behaviors such as driving fast, not wearing a seatbelt, or extensive alcohol abuse, autoerotic asphyxiation, overeating or eating poorly...are all signs of reduced self-care and are indicators," said Dr. Rudd.

Rudd also explained the military environment often makes it difficult to identify sub-intentional suicidal behaviors. "It's a function of the culture," said Dr. Rudd. "It can be difficult to acknowledge psychological difficulties. Issues around risk-taking are often missed."

Professional insights offered through the TAPS webinar, featuring Dr. Rudd, will help individuals and professional staff working in and around the military environment prepare to identify and address these symptoms.

"The study of suicide continues to reveal its complexities and that self-destruction takes many forms, both direct and in-direct," said Jill Harrington-LaMorie, Director of Professional Education for TAPS. "Subtle or high-risk life threatening behaviors have become an increasing concern to those working and living with military service members, veterans, their families and the traumatically bereaved."

Civilians who are not working for the military or the VA are asked to pay a small program fee of $25. Students with a valid college or university email address can attend for a reduced price of $15.

Certificates of Attendance can be provided for those who attend the entire webinar. This program is approved by the National Association of Social Workers, Provider # 886505639, for 1.0 continuing education contact hours. Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider

#CEP15218, for 1.0 continuing education contact hours. The Association of Professional Chaplains will accept certificates of attendance for use in reporting continuing education hours. Please check with your state licensing board for professional requirements for continuing education.

For more information or to register, visit the TAPS website at: www.taps.org/professionaleducation

About TAPS

Since its founding in 1992, TAPS has provided comfort and care to more than 25,000 surviving military family members. TAPS provides ongoing emotional help, hope and healing to all who are grieving the death of a loved one in military service to America, regardless of relationship to the deceased, geography, or circumstance of the death. TAPS meets its mission by providing peer-based support, crisis care, casualty casework assistance, and grief and trauma resources. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free crisis line at 800.959.TAPS.


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