Suicide Prevention Strategies with Veterans - Vancouver
Friday, March 1, 2019
8:30AM - 1:00PM PST
With Monireh Moghadam, LCSW and Matt Schmidt, LCSW - VA Portland Health System Suicide Prevention Program
Location: West Park Community Room
610 Esther Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
Cost: Free
CEU Credits: 3.5
Who Should Attend: This training is open to both Returning Veterans Project volunteer providers and community providers
What You Will Learn:
Suicide is a national public health issue that impacts people from all walks of life. It is estimated that Veteran suicides represent approximately 22% of all suicides in the U.S. The Department of Veterans Affairs has developed focused efforts on reducing Veteran suicide at the government level and also through collaboration with community partners.
This workshop will discuss the scope of suicide in the U.S., as well as common myths and misconceptions around suicide. The workshop will also focus on the assessment of suicide risk, including risk factors unique to Veterans, plus identify strategies for conducting caring conversations around reducing access to lethal means. The suicide prevention safety plan will be discussed as a clinical intervention tool.
This training includes four learning objectives. Participants will be able to:
- describe how the Northwest’s suicide rates compare to other parts of the United States
- identify suicide risk factors for Veterans
- identify the 6 steps of a Suicide Prevention Safety Plan
- identify the three most common means used in suicidal behavior
CE faculty:
Monireh Moghadam, LCSW
Suicide Prevention Coordinator, VA Portland Health Care System
Monireh earned her graduate social work degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her clinical background includes working in jail mental health services, the California state hospital system, and emergency department psychiatric services. She joined the VA Portland Health Care System in 2012. Monireh is currently the Lead Suicide Prevention Coordinator for both the Portland VA as well as the VA Northwest network, which serves Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. In 2015, she was selected for a temporary assignment with the Office of Suicide Prevention, Department of Veterans Affairs. She is also a trainer to provide CALM: Counseling on Access to Lethal Means workshops for healthcare providers. In her spare time, Monireh enjoys the amazing food culture of the Northwest as well as long-distance running.
Matt Schmidt, LCSW, CADC-III
Matt holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Edgewood College in Madison WI, and a Masters Degree in Social Work from Portland State University. Matt is a an LCSW in the state of Oregon, as well as holding a Masters in Addiction Counseling (MAC), and the CADC-III (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counseling Masters Level). He has been practicing Social Work for 6 years, and in the field of social services for 18 years. Matt Schmidt has previously worked with homeless Veterans as part of the HUD/VASH (Housing and Urban Development/Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) program since 2015, and currently employed with the Suicide Prevention Team at the Portland VA Medical Center as of May 2018. Matt’s clinical background includes work with children, adolescents, adults, families, and violent/sexual offenders in outpatient, transitional housing, law enforcement/behavioral health, emergency department psychiatric social work, and suicide prevention. Matt currently works for the Portland VA Health Care System as a Suicide Prevention Coordinator, as an on-call Mental Health Consultant with their Emergency Department, and with Project Respond in Multnomah County as a Mobile Crisis Clinician.
Day of the Event: Doors open at 8:30AM.
Bagels and coffee are provided.
Parking Information - There are several free visitor parking spaces in the building's parking lot. There are also metered spaces on Esther Street, located directly in front of the building.
Contact: Mike McCarrel .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
503-954-2259
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