CCTP: Upstream Suicide Prevention--Demographic Considerations

5201 HR Ranch Road,Cheyenne WY 82007

09 November, 2021

Description

This free interactive training is co-sponsored by the Wyoming Air National Guard Chaplain Corps and Miracle Valley Ministries. Please REGISTER to RESERVE your seat now for this event. This training will be facilitated by Chaplain James Patterson, who can be reached at [email protected]. 70% of combat Veterans abandon their religious beliefs because they don’t know what to do with their combat experiences. They don’t believe anyone understands or cares about their guilt and questions. Trauma may cause combat Veterans to move away from religion and toward secular counseling or, toward risky behaviors, such as illicit drug use, and even suicidal thoughts to numb emotional pain. Effectively combating the problem of suicide among Veterans requires a comprehensive strategy that includes life-saving crisis intervention approaches as well as efforts further “upstream.” This part 3 of a part 3 Upstream Suicide Prevention series aims to complement the crucial, indispensable work of traditional suicide prevention efforts with consideration of additional approaches and topics that may facilitate both suicide prevention and life promotion. The Community Training Partner Initiative offers critical resource to educate and support the faith community. Training Objectives Upstream Suicide Prevention--"Demographic Considerations" explores specific demographic considerations that are of relevance to Service member and Veteran populations: gender, masculinity, and young adulthood. Speakers include sociologist Chris Smith, research psychologist Derek Griffith, and clinical psychologist Sarah Wilson.* Contact hour certificate available upon request. Trainer Biography James V. Patterson serves as a Clinical Chaplain for Montana VA Health Care System (MTVAHCS) in Fort Harrison, MT. His 30 years of extensive experience as a clinician and member of the clergy include being a youth pastor, senior pastor, chaplain, and thousands of hours engaged in individual, marriage, family, crises, group, and spiritual/pastoral counseling. Chaplain Patterson has been with MTVAHCS for over eight years. He has served with the Active Duty Air Force for over 11 years, an additional one year in the Air Force Reserves, another three years with the Montana Air National Guard and another seven years with the Wyoming Air National Guard where he serves with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Chaplain Patterson is a Veteran of the Bosnian and Iraq wars. He holds a MA in Counseling and a MDiv from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. He has taken four units of Clinical Pastoral Education and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the States of Wyoming and Montana and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with the State of Montana.