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February can be a tough month. The days are generally cold, dark, and short. For many of us, the excitement of snow has worn off, and we’ve binged all the best shows already. Still, there are some bright spots—it’s a great time to curl up with a new book! Visit your local bookstore and ask for a recommendation.
If the weather has you feeling down, chances are your loved ones are feeling the same way. Reach out to the people you care about. You won’t regret it!
In this edition of our newsletter, we are introducing a new recurring feature, the Clinicians' Corner. Our Rocky Mountain MIRECC clinicians will share clinical tips and resources on topics related to mental health and suicide prevention. Take a look at the first Clinician’s Corner, which is focused on Lethal Means Safety Counseling, and read on for other relevant resources and research updates.
Warm wishes,
The Rocky Mountain MIRECC Team
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Lethal Means Safety Counseling (LMSC) promotes secure storage behaviors for lethal methods of suicide (e.g., firearms, medication, sharp objects) by aligning evidence-based recommendations with patients’ preferences and values. LMSC is patient-centered, flexible, and encourages behavior change with the aim of optimizing safety and preventing suicide. Discussions about lethal means safety are sometimes sensitive; LMSC should always be collaborative and conducted with a goal of mutual understanding.
The core foundational components of LMSC include:
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Encouraging individuals to reduce access to lethal methods of suicide during periods of elevated risk.
- Providing the rationale for reducing access to lethal means during periods of elevated risk.
- Guiding the discussion with open-ended questions and thoughtful word choices, and with an awareness of personal biases related to firearms.
- Helping Veterans explore and navigate potential ambivalence about adopting secure storage practices, weighing both the benefits and costs to adopting those behaviors.
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Developing lethal means safety planning that might include safe storage of lethal means in the home or temporary removal from their possession to a support person.
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The suicide rate among Black Americans has increased over 35% within the last decade. Researchers are exploring structural inequities and contextual factors that may increase suicide risk, such as high incarceration rates in a community. Personal protective factors that may help reduce suicide risk, like social support and religion, are also a research priority. Recent research also examines Black Veterans’ views and experiences of race in healthcare.
We’ve chosen a few articles that highlight different aspects of suicide risk in Black Veterans and ways to create identity-safe environments for Black Veterans.
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Below you will find a few of our team’s recent visual abstracts. Click the image to view a larger version of each visual on Twitter and be sure to visit the accompanying publication for full methods, results and discussion.
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How does institutional closeness and betrayal affect self-directed violence and mental health symptoms in women Veterans who’ve experienced military sexual trauma?
Read the publication here.
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Can examining patterns of mental health comorbidity in justice-involved civilians and Veterans provide clues to building better treatment for incarcerated individuals?
Read the publication here.
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What does the evidence show for use of bright light therapy in the treatment of mental & behavioral illness?
Read the publication here.
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Cultural competence is an important aspect of working with Veterans and Service members in the clinical environment, and accurate and comprehensive assessment of PTSD and suicide risk is integral to developing effective treatment plans. This two-day workshop aims to introduce participants to military culture and help them develop skills in assessing for two important clinical issues: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide risk.
There are three sessions available:
- February 27-28, 2023
- May 3-4, 2023
- July 19-20, 2023
Applications are open for this two-day online training. Click below to learn more and apply for registration.
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