Suicide Risk Among Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
Friday, August 21, 2026
9:00AM - 10:30AM PDT
Research has shown that experiencing Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is a significant risk factor for suicide. This presentation will provide information to enhance understanding of the impact of MST and how providers and organizations can offer trauma-informed services.
Location: Online
Continuing Education: 1.5 (Applied through NASW Oregon)
Cost: Free to RVP Volunteers and partnering clinics who are listed in our directory and who have an active MOU with RVP. We also welcome our OR/WA Vet Center and VA staff to join for free. All other community providers, please pay $29 (or apply to become a RVP volunteer provider).
Who Should Attend:
This training is open to all RVP Volunteer Providers, social workers, mental health counselors, and community providers.
What You Will Learn:
Research has shown that experiencing Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is a significant risk factor for suicide. A meta-analysis showed MST is independently linked to suicidal ideation and attempts in both male and female veterans, even after adjusting for psychiatric conditions. This presentation will explore how MST impacts suicide risk among Veterans and how providers and organizations can offer
trauma-informed services. The role of shame and betrayal and how that can impact disclosure of MST and seeking care will also be discussed. Finally, the presentation will review available resources.
Learning Objectives:
- Define Military Sexual Trauma and describe the prevalence of MST.
- Discuss risk factors that increase risk for suicide in Veterans with MST.
- Identify barriers to disclose of MST and accessing care.
- Identify available resources.
CE Faculty
Georgia Gerard, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with the Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Colorado. She has been with the VA since 2012 providing clinical services to Veterans and serving as a clinician on research studies focused on Veterans at risk for suicide. She also provides implementation support for national VA suicide prevention programs and serves as a consultant on the VA’s Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program (SRM) which includes providing suicide postvention support and consultation.
Dr. Ryan Holliday, PhD, is also a Senior Clinical Research Psychologist and a member of the Central IRB in the Department of Veterans Affairs. He received his doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and completed an Advanced Psychology Fellowship at the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention. Dr. Holliday is passionate about understanding the intersection between stressful life events (such as homelessness and justice involvement), traumatic experiences, health factors (e.g., traumatic brain injury), and suicide. He is further interested in translating research on this intersection into evidence-based suicide prevention practice.
Want to attend our trainings for free? Become an RVP Volunteer and gain access to free CE trainings and other great benefits! Learn more about volunteering >
Contact: Jennifer Keeling, RVP Director of Retention and Recruitment .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
503-954-2259
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