The Watford City post hosted the suicide prevention training with support from the Fargo VA.
American Legion Resolution No. 9 encourages posts to hosts VA S.A.V.E. training classes in support of Be the One – the Legion’s suicide prevention mission to save the lives of veterans and destigmatize asking for mental health support. Carl E. Roger Post 29 in Watford City, N.D., held its first VA S.A.V.E. training class Jan. 3 for post members.
“We needed our veterans to know that there's a training available out there through the (Department of Veterans Affairs) VA to assist us in being the one,” said Glenn Wahus, a past national vice commander and member of Post 29. “The training gives you the tools to talk to a veteran or anybody in the community. We have it right with Be the One to ask, to reach out, to listen. That’s pretty much S.A.V.E. training.”
S.A.V.E. stands for:
S - Signs of suicidal thinking should be recognized.
A - Ask the most important question of all, “Are you thinking of killing yourself?”
V - Validate the veteran’s experience.
E - Encourage treatment and expedite getting help.
Sarah Kemp Tabbut, the community engagement and partnerships coordinator with the Fargo VA Health Care System, came to Post 29 to provide the S.A.V.E. training. Wahus said she gave post members the words to ask when a veteran is in crisis, “Are you thinking of suicide?”, and immediate suicide prevention resources available with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Suicide prevention is “something close to my heart,” said Wahus, who has had four encounters with veterans in crisis. “This is what we need to do. (Suicide) is a prevalent situation in our area so being veterans we plan on doing more.”
American Legion posts interested in hosting a VA S.A.V.E. training class can facilitate it through their local VA medical center’s suicide-prevention team. A post can locate contact information for their local suicide prevention team through the Veterans Crisis Line Resource using this link. Once on the website, enter a ZIP code and press search. Then select the box next to Suicide Prevention Coordinators and press search again. Once completed, you will be provided with the closest suicide prevention coordinator and their contact information.
- Be the One