I am reminded of the work still to be done to keep people safe from suicide.
to view the article and video click here: http://hamptonroads.com/2012/04/we-knew-he-had-demons-war-veterans-mom-says
By Kate Wiltrout
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 20, 2012
Jonathan Bartlett, an Iraq war veteran and double amputee who was featured in numerous Virginian-Pilot stories as he recovered from his injuries, died Tuesday at his home in Chesapeake. He was 27.
Family members said he killed himself.
On Sept. 25, 2004, Bartlett was a 19-year-old Army infantryman at the wheel of a Humvee outside Fallujah when it hit a homemade bomb. He lost one leg in the blast; the other was amputated soon after.
He spent 13 months recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, where he learned to walk on prosthetic legs and amused nurses, therapists and visitors with his salty language and black humor. He liked to wear T-shirts referencing the stumps of his legs. One read: "I was golfing. I found the alligator." Another admonished: "Tell your children not to stare, or the bogeyman will take their legs, too."
A graduate of Maury High School, Bartlett returned to Norfolk in 2005 and enrolled at Old Dominion. He eventually moved into a wheelchair-accessible home in Deep Creek purchased with the aid of a veterans organization.
In 2007, Bartlett was one of 10 servicemembers featured in an HBO documentary called "Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq."
He graduated in 2011 and got a job with the federal government, working in human resources at Norfolk Naval Station.
Bartlett was outspoken and opinionated, with a flair for the dramatic; he'd regularly post manifestos about politics, religion and government on Facebook, and link to essays and articles that invariably made him mad.
His mother, Esther Bartlett of Norfolk, said she saw him a few times in the past week and Jon seemed his usual cocky self.
"We knew he had demons," she said. "He brought probably more than a few of them back from Iraq with him. We thought he had at least made some kind of peace with them."
A friend, Jumaria Copeland, said Bartlett helped her get through tough times, whether she was struggling emotionally or financially.
"I remember being so flat broke, and he would hand me a $20. He'd say, 'I know it's not much, but it will put gas in your tank.' "
He pushed her not to give up her dream of becoming a criminal psychologist, she said, prodding her to stop thinking about it and start doing something to achieve her goal.
She remembers him as wickedly funny and verbally talented, but said she most values the inspiration he provided to rise above minor annoyances and focus on what was most important.
"Here he is, he lost his legs, he barely survived all of this, and through everything he still had a smile on his face, and he was still willing to help people," Copeland said.
Bartlett insisted he was not a hero. It made him uncomfortable when people thanked him for his "sacrifice."
"You know what sacrifice is?" he said in a Virginian-Pilot video in 2008. "Throwing yourself on top of a grenade to save your buddies, grabbing a kid out of the street at the expense of your life or limb - that's a sacrifice, because you didn't have to do it, but you did it anyway. I got hit by a bomb. I'm a casualty."
Perhaps the thing Bartlett missed most about losing his legs was being able to run. He ran track at Maury, he ran in Army training, he ran as a means of coping with life.
"If you run fast enough, and you don't look at your legs, you can almost fly," he said. "It's very peaceful."
Bartlett's funeral will be at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be made in Jon's memory to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Kate Wiltrout, 757-446-2629, kate.wiltrout@pilotonline.com
Friday, April 27, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Survivor Voices
Survivor Voices: A Public Speaking Training for Virginia Survivors of Suicide
The Virginia Department of Health will be offering a series of two day trainings for survivors of suicide loss who are interested in learning how to tell their story safely to friends, various audiences, and the media. Suicide survivors (those who have lost a loved one to suicide) play an important role in increasing awareness about suicide. By speaking about their personal loss and telling the story about their loved one’s life and death, survivors can promote healing and understanding, which in turn supports and encourages suicide prevention efforts. Suicide is a very complex issue and a great deal of research has been done about how to talk about suicide in a safe manner and in a way that will not increase the risk for those who may be vulnerable. This two-day training assists speakers in honing a message that tells their story in a safe and effective manner.
Survivors who complete the training are certainly not required to tell their story publicly after the training, but most do go on to speak at local suicide prevention conferences and local venues such as rotary, their church, legislative committees, etc. The training was developed by NAMI NH and is part of their Connect Suicide Prevention Project, which is listed on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Best Practice Registry.
It is suggested that survivors be at least two years from their loss before attending; however, some survivors are ready earlier and should feel free to talk with us if you would like to attend.
The training is conducted over the course of two days and you will be asked to commit to both training days. The first day of the training will focus on the basics of public speaking, issues to be aware of around speaking about suicide, safe messaging, honing your message for particular audiences/media, and composing your personal story. The second day of the training will give you an opportunity to share your presentation, evaluate yourself, get feedback from the group, discuss how to be responsive to your audience, and review possible responses to difficult questions. There will be a homework assignment for the night of day one.
The training is free of charge to participants and is made possible through funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Each training is limited to 8 participants. Information on training dates, location and registration can be found below:
May 21-22, 2012 – Chesterfield, Virginia
Featherstone Professional Center
Suite 108
1807 Huguenot Road
Midlothian, VA 23113
Register: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SurvivorVoicesRichmond
June 20-21, 2012 – Abingdon, Virginia
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
One Partnership Circle
Abingdon, Virginia 24212
Register: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SurvivorVoicesAbingdon
July 18-19, 2012 - Roanoke, Virginia
Blue Ridge Behavioral Health
3517 Brandon Ave
Roanoke, VA 24018
Register: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SurvivorVoicesRoanoke
The Virginia Department of Health will be offering a series of two day trainings for survivors of suicide loss who are interested in learning how to tell their story safely to friends, various audiences, and the media. Suicide survivors (those who have lost a loved one to suicide) play an important role in increasing awareness about suicide. By speaking about their personal loss and telling the story about their loved one’s life and death, survivors can promote healing and understanding, which in turn supports and encourages suicide prevention efforts. Suicide is a very complex issue and a great deal of research has been done about how to talk about suicide in a safe manner and in a way that will not increase the risk for those who may be vulnerable. This two-day training assists speakers in honing a message that tells their story in a safe and effective manner.
Survivors who complete the training are certainly not required to tell their story publicly after the training, but most do go on to speak at local suicide prevention conferences and local venues such as rotary, their church, legislative committees, etc. The training was developed by NAMI NH and is part of their Connect Suicide Prevention Project, which is listed on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Best Practice Registry.
It is suggested that survivors be at least two years from their loss before attending; however, some survivors are ready earlier and should feel free to talk with us if you would like to attend.
The training is conducted over the course of two days and you will be asked to commit to both training days. The first day of the training will focus on the basics of public speaking, issues to be aware of around speaking about suicide, safe messaging, honing your message for particular audiences/media, and composing your personal story. The second day of the training will give you an opportunity to share your presentation, evaluate yourself, get feedback from the group, discuss how to be responsive to your audience, and review possible responses to difficult questions. There will be a homework assignment for the night of day one.
The training is free of charge to participants and is made possible through funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Each training is limited to 8 participants. Information on training dates, location and registration can be found below:
May 21-22, 2012 – Chesterfield, Virginia
Featherstone Professional Center
Suite 108
1807 Huguenot Road
Midlothian, VA 23113
Register: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SurvivorVoicesRichmond
June 20-21, 2012 – Abingdon, Virginia
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
One Partnership Circle
Abingdon, Virginia 24212
Register: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SurvivorVoicesAbingdon
July 18-19, 2012 - Roanoke, Virginia
Blue Ridge Behavioral Health
3517 Brandon Ave
Roanoke, VA 24018
Register: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SurvivorVoicesRoanoke
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Suicide and Suicide Prevention on College Campuses in Virginia
It is difficult to determine how many college students die each year by suicide. “Student” status can be hard to define and is not typically recorded by a coroner or medical examiner following a death.
The BAD NEWS: We do know that suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students and that more teenagers and young adults die by suicide than from all medical illnesses combined. It is estimated that we lose about 1,350 college students to suicide each year; roughly 3 young people per day.
The GOOD NEWS: Statistics also tell us that 18-24 year olds who are in college are at HALF the risk of suicide compared to their non-student counterparts. That is, being part of a campus community is believed to have a protective effect. While we don’t have the full explanation for these findings, experts suggest that key factors may be reduced access to firearms, the greater availability of mental health care and richer connections to a supportive network. The continued study of suicide risk within campus communities may well teach us some strategies for preventing suicide among 18-24 year olds in non-campus settings.
We also know that preventing suicide may also help to prevent violence of other kinds. Clearly, preventing suicide, suicidal thinking and suicidal behavior are a priority to those who work to create safe campus communities.
Historically, the work of suicide prevention has been accomplished through a mental health model, in which those at risk for suicide receive intervention and follow-up services in a mental health care setting. While effective triage and crisis management will always be essential elements of a comprehensive plan, a public health model protects limited crisis management resources by expanding “upstream” prevention efforts.
The Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia works to reduce risk for suicide in Virginia’s college and university communities by helping campus leaders to:
· Promote mental health and emotional resilience for all students;
· Enhance strategies for early identification of mental health concerns;
· Encourage help-seeking among students;
· Provide options for those in need of support services; and
· Respond effectively to individuals who may be at risk for suicide.
As the rest of the country moves to a broader, more proactive and comprehensive public health model for reducing suicide risk, college and university campus communities will too. One of our primary goals is to further that transition in higher education settings across Virginia.
For more information, go to CampusSuicidePreventionVA.org or contact Dr. Jane Wiggins at wigginjr@jmu.edu
Jane Wiggins, Ph.D. has been a school psychologist for the past 30 years. Her expertise is in working with institutions that serve youth, particularly K-12 and higher education settings. She is currently the director of the Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia; a partnership between the Virginia Department of Health and the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services at James Madison University. In that role, Jane provides resources, training, consultation in suicide prevention to colleges and universities across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The BAD NEWS: We do know that suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students and that more teenagers and young adults die by suicide than from all medical illnesses combined. It is estimated that we lose about 1,350 college students to suicide each year; roughly 3 young people per day.
The GOOD NEWS: Statistics also tell us that 18-24 year olds who are in college are at HALF the risk of suicide compared to their non-student counterparts. That is, being part of a campus community is believed to have a protective effect. While we don’t have the full explanation for these findings, experts suggest that key factors may be reduced access to firearms, the greater availability of mental health care and richer connections to a supportive network. The continued study of suicide risk within campus communities may well teach us some strategies for preventing suicide among 18-24 year olds in non-campus settings.
We also know that preventing suicide may also help to prevent violence of other kinds. Clearly, preventing suicide, suicidal thinking and suicidal behavior are a priority to those who work to create safe campus communities.
Historically, the work of suicide prevention has been accomplished through a mental health model, in which those at risk for suicide receive intervention and follow-up services in a mental health care setting. While effective triage and crisis management will always be essential elements of a comprehensive plan, a public health model protects limited crisis management resources by expanding “upstream” prevention efforts.
The Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia works to reduce risk for suicide in Virginia’s college and university communities by helping campus leaders to:
· Promote mental health and emotional resilience for all students;
· Enhance strategies for early identification of mental health concerns;
· Encourage help-seeking among students;
· Provide options for those in need of support services; and
· Respond effectively to individuals who may be at risk for suicide.
As the rest of the country moves to a broader, more proactive and comprehensive public health model for reducing suicide risk, college and university campus communities will too. One of our primary goals is to further that transition in higher education settings across Virginia.
For more information, go to CampusSuicidePreventionVA.org or contact Dr. Jane Wiggins at wigginjr@jmu.edu
Jane Wiggins, Ph.D. has been a school psychologist for the past 30 years. Her expertise is in working with institutions that serve youth, particularly K-12 and higher education settings. She is currently the director of the Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia; a partnership between the Virginia Department of Health and the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services at James Madison University. In that role, Jane provides resources, training, consultation in suicide prevention to colleges and universities across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING FOR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS
Most mental health clinicians have had little or no formal training in assessing suicide risk, yet they are often called upon to do so. Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk: Essential Skills for Clinicians (RRSR) has been developed by the American Association of Suicidology specifically to fill this training gap. RRSR is an advanced, interactive training based on established core competencies that mental health professionals need in order to effectively assess and manage suicide risk in their patients. The program has several components, including a web-based assessment; two on-line, self-paced modules; a two-day face-to-face workshop; and post-workshop mentorship through on-line learning activities.
RRSR is appropriate for any mental health clinician working with patients on an ongoing basis. Participants can include licensed private counselors, licensed clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses, addiction counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists and pastoral counselors.
Additional information about RRSR is available at http://www.suicidology.org/web/guest/education-and-training/rrsr
The Virginia Department of Health will host 5 RRSR trainings in 2012. This training is for all mental health clinicians, regardless of your place of work. Some of you may be familiar with another suicide prevention training offered, ASIST. Please refer to the attached document for an explanation as to who should attend an ASIST training and who should attend an RRSR training.
Through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) this training will be offered at no cost to 50 participants; the training is typically valued at $250 a participant. All training materials will be provided.
The training will be from 8:30-4:45 both days. One hour will be given for lunch; meals will be "on your own".
Because of the demand for seats, please register only if you are able to attend the full two days, and are not 'on-call' for other duties during that time.
2012 Training Dates, Locations, and Registration:
April 3-4, 2012
Richmond, VA
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RRSRRichmondApril2012
May 16-17, 2012
Middletown, VA (Winchester area)
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RRSRMiddletown2012
June 19-20, 2012
Fredericksburg, VA
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RRSRFredericksburg2012
July 24-25, 2012
Roanoke, VA
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RRSRRoanoke2012
October 10-11, 2012
Richmond, VA
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RRSRRichmondOct2012
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at christina.benton@vdh.virginia.gov. Please feel free to share this training announcement with your colleagues.
We look forward to seeing you at one of the trainings!
RRSR is appropriate for any mental health clinician working with patients on an ongoing basis. Participants can include licensed private counselors, licensed clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses, addiction counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists and pastoral counselors.
Additional information about RRSR is available at http://www.suicidology.org/web/guest/education-and-training/rrsr
The Virginia Department of Health will host 5 RRSR trainings in 2012. This training is for all mental health clinicians, regardless of your place of work. Some of you may be familiar with another suicide prevention training offered, ASIST. Please refer to the attached document for an explanation as to who should attend an ASIST training and who should attend an RRSR training.
Through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) this training will be offered at no cost to 50 participants; the training is typically valued at $250 a participant. All training materials will be provided.
The training will be from 8:30-4:45 both days. One hour will be given for lunch; meals will be "on your own".
Because of the demand for seats, please register only if you are able to attend the full two days, and are not 'on-call' for other duties during that time.
2012 Training Dates, Locations, and Registration:
April 3-4, 2012
Richmond, VA
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RRSRRichmondApril2012
May 16-17, 2012
Middletown, VA (Winchester area)
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RRSRMiddletown2012
June 19-20, 2012
Fredericksburg, VA
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RRSRFredericksburg2012
July 24-25, 2012
Roanoke, VA
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RRSRRoanoke2012
October 10-11, 2012
Richmond, VA
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RRSRRichmondOct2012
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at christina.benton@vdh.virginia.gov. Please feel free to share this training announcement with your colleagues.
We look forward to seeing you at one of the trainings!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Veterans Crisis Line introduces Text Messaging
WASHINGTON, Feb 15, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding its efforts to prevent suicide through several new initiatives that increase the availability of services for Veterans, Servicemembers and their families.
The new initiatives include a new, free, confidential text-messaging service in the existing Veterans Crisis Line, introduction of toll-free access from Europe, and collaboration with Vets Prevail and Vets4Warriors, two groups providing crisis help to Veterans, Servicemembers and their families.
"Offering text messaging services will help VA reach more Veterans and their friends and families," said Dr. Janet Kemp, VA's national mental health director for suicide prevention. "We are working to meet their needs by communicating through multiple channels -- over the phone, through online chat, and now via text, which provides quick, easy access to support. VA wants all Veterans to know that confidential support is only a text message away."
Since its founding July 2007, VA's Veterans Crisis Line and the later Chat Service have received 500,000 calls and engaged in 31,000 chats resulting in over 18,000 rescues of Veterans in immediate crisis.
Now, in addition to the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and Press 1) and online chat ( www.VeteransCrisisLine.net ), Veterans and Servicemembers in crisis--and their friends and families--may text free of charge to 83-8255 to receive confidential, personal and immediate support. The text service is available, like the Veterans Crisis Line and online chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and connects a user with a specially trained VA professional -- many who are Veterans themselves.
As a part of the effort to extend VA's reach, Veterans and members of the military community in Europe may now receive free, confidential support from the European Military Crisis Line, a new initiative recently launched by VA. Callers in Europe may dial 0800-1273-8255 or DSN 118 to receive confidential support from responders at the Veterans Crisis Line in the U.S.
VA's Veterans Crisis Line continues to add external resources to provide Veterans with additional support. Two of these organizations include Vets Prevail ( www.VetsPrevail.org ) and Vets4Warriors ( www.Vets4Warriors.com ).
In December, Vets Prevail launched a chat service that connects Veterans to caring responders who provide information on a wide variety of resources. If the Veteran is in crisis or needs mental health support, the conversation is then seamlessly transferred to a VA Veterans Crisis Line responder.
Vets4Warriors has helped thousands of their peers connect with confidential assistance through a free hotline (1-855-838-8255/1-855-VET-TALK) and online chat ( www.Vets4Warriors.com ). If a Veteran is in need of professional crisis or mental health support, Vets4Warriors' responders will transfer the Veteran to a responder at the Veterans Crisis Line.
For more information about VA's suicide prevention program, visit: http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/
The new initiatives include a new, free, confidential text-messaging service in the existing Veterans Crisis Line, introduction of toll-free access from Europe, and collaboration with Vets Prevail and Vets4Warriors, two groups providing crisis help to Veterans, Servicemembers and their families.
"Offering text messaging services will help VA reach more Veterans and their friends and families," said Dr. Janet Kemp, VA's national mental health director for suicide prevention. "We are working to meet their needs by communicating through multiple channels -- over the phone, through online chat, and now via text, which provides quick, easy access to support. VA wants all Veterans to know that confidential support is only a text message away."
Since its founding July 2007, VA's Veterans Crisis Line and the later Chat Service have received 500,000 calls and engaged in 31,000 chats resulting in over 18,000 rescues of Veterans in immediate crisis.
Now, in addition to the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and Press 1) and online chat ( www.VeteransCrisisLine.net ), Veterans and Servicemembers in crisis--and their friends and families--may text free of charge to 83-8255 to receive confidential, personal and immediate support. The text service is available, like the Veterans Crisis Line and online chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and connects a user with a specially trained VA professional -- many who are Veterans themselves.
As a part of the effort to extend VA's reach, Veterans and members of the military community in Europe may now receive free, confidential support from the European Military Crisis Line, a new initiative recently launched by VA. Callers in Europe may dial 0800-1273-8255 or DSN 118 to receive confidential support from responders at the Veterans Crisis Line in the U.S.
VA's Veterans Crisis Line continues to add external resources to provide Veterans with additional support. Two of these organizations include Vets Prevail ( www.VetsPrevail.org ) and Vets4Warriors ( www.Vets4Warriors.com ).
In December, Vets Prevail launched a chat service that connects Veterans to caring responders who provide information on a wide variety of resources. If the Veteran is in crisis or needs mental health support, the conversation is then seamlessly transferred to a VA Veterans Crisis Line responder.
Vets4Warriors has helped thousands of their peers connect with confidential assistance through a free hotline (1-855-838-8255/1-855-VET-TALK) and online chat ( www.Vets4Warriors.com ). If a Veteran is in need of professional crisis or mental health support, Vets4Warriors' responders will transfer the Veteran to a responder at the Veterans Crisis Line.
For more information about VA's suicide prevention program, visit: http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Walk for Hope and Out of the Darkness in Harrisonburg
The Walk For Hope is scheduled for Saturday March 31st in downtown Harrisonburg. This is a risk reduction event targeted towards college students.
On Sunday April 22nd Chi Sigma Iota will host its second annual AFPS Out of the Darkness Campus Walk. This walk will be held on the James Madison University Campus. Registration will be held in Highlands Room of the Festival Conference and Student Center starting at noon. We are currently spreading the word, starting our fundraising campaign, and looking for volunteers. If anyone is interested in registering they can go to our walk website: http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.eventDetails&eventID=1705.
On Sunday April 22nd Chi Sigma Iota will host its second annual AFPS Out of the Darkness Campus Walk. This walk will be held on the James Madison University Campus. Registration will be held in Highlands Room of the Festival Conference and Student Center starting at noon. We are currently spreading the word, starting our fundraising campaign, and looking for volunteers. If anyone is interested in registering they can go to our walk website: http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.eventDetails&eventID=1705.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Save the Date
Coalition conference call is scheduled for March 12th at 2pm. Please contact Christy Letsom at cletsom@theplanningcouncil.org for more information.
We will share state and regional updates and discuss needs of the coalitions and future projects. I look forward to talking with you all.
We will share state and regional updates and discuss needs of the coalitions and future projects. I look forward to talking with you all.
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