Support Be the One and veteran suicide prevention by hosting the Columbia Protocol training in person.
While The American Legion provides free virtual veteran suicide prevention training through its partnership with the Columbia University Lighthouse Project, posts and departments are also encouraged to contact the Columbia University Lighthouse Project and bring the suicide prevention training in person to Legion Family and community members.
“In-person education for suicide prevention awareness creates something online modules simply cannot replicate: the human connection that is at the heart of suicide prevention,” said Wendy Lakso, director of Partnerships and Veteran and Military Initiatives for the Columbia Lighthouse Project. “For the Legion Family, veterans and their families who have often experienced loss and trauma firsthand, being in a room together normalizes the conversation, builds trust, and allows participants to ask real questions in real time.
“In-person training allows facilitators to model tone, body language and compassionate engagement. For communities where stigma around mental health remains high, the shared experience of training together can itself be a culture-shifting moment.”
Several departments have conducted in-person training, including the Department of New Jersey last March. Then-Department Commander Charles “Andy” Jackson was instrumental in bringing the in-person training to Legion Family members to support the Be the One suicide prevention mission.
“The in-person training allows for so much more than the virtual due to those attending having the ability to ask questions,” said Jackson. “And the role-play session help individuals who really need some guidance and, if needed, some direct one-on-one with someone who is borderline skeptical about the importance of what this help can do. I think any department would surely benefit with this program coming to their state.”
The 90-minute training teaches the Columbia Protocol, also known as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, that supports suicide risk assessment through a series of six simple questions that anyone can ask.
To request in-person post, region or state training please contact: Dr. Kelly Posner: kelly.posner@nyspi.columbia.edu
Columbia Lighthouse Project received a grant from USAA’s Face the Fight initaitive for staff to conduct in-person training at posts or departments for no cost. An ask that Columbia Lighthouse Project has is that hotel accomodations for presenters are covered by the post or department.
- Be the One