S.A.V.E. Training Now Available Online

Have you heard? The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has partnered with PsychArmor Institute to offer S.A.V.E. - a free online suicide prevention training!

Hosted by Dr. Megan McCarthy, VA’s Deputy Director of Suicide Prevention, S.A.V.E. training provides specific recommendations for how to talk with Veterans who may have suicidal thoughts and what to do during these critical conversations.

“S.A.V.E.” stands for “Signs,” “Ask,” “Validate,” and “Encourage and Expedite,”—simple steps anyone can take to help save the life of a Veteran at risk for suicide. VA Suicide Prevention Coordinators have led this course at VA facilities and community centers across the nation. Extending this important training to the world is a critical part of our mission to be there for all Veterans.

The free training video is available to all, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at https://rly.pt/SAVE

The 25-minute online course covers three main topics:
▪Suicide as a public health issue in the U.S.
▪Signs that a Veteran may be at risk for suicide
▪Actions people can take if they identify a Veteran at risk

We all have a role to play in suicide prevention, and each of us can ask a simple question that could save a Veteran’s life. S.A.V.E. helps learners understand the facts about suicide and what they can do to prevent it.

To optimize the impact of the training, the VA encourages watching the video as a group and discussing how you might share the S.A.V.E. training with others. That way you and your colleagues can spread the word faster about the benefits of this training.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, support is available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 to all at [login to see] . Veterans, Service members, and their families and friends can call [login to see] and Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or MilitaryCrisisLine.net/Chat, or send a text message to 838255.