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Event Series: Beyond Warning Signs

Beyond Warning Signs

Beyond Warning Signs

Virtual

November 19 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm CST

Register

Recognizing Risk Is Important. Knowing What to Do Next Can Save a Life.

Join us for a free, interactive training designed to help you respond when concerns about suicide become more serious and immediate. Whether you’re supporting a loved one, serving as a peer, or working with veterans and military families in a professional role, this workshop provides practical, evidence-informed skills for helping someone through a suicidal crisis.

While many suicide prevention trainings focus on recognizing warning signs and starting supportive conversations, Beyond Warning Signs focuses on what comes next. Participants learn how to identify escalating suicide risk, ask direct questions about suicide, assess the level of concern, and partner with someone to create a safety plan that supports their safety and well-being.

Through guided instruction, discussion, and realistic practice scenarios, participants build the confidence and skills needed to respond when someone may be at risk for suicide.

Who Should Attend?

This training is designed for anyone who may find themselves supporting someone experiencing suicidal thoughts or concerns, including:

  • Military and veteran spouses, partners, family members, and friends
  • Service members and veterans
  • Peer support specialists and peer leaders
  • Veteran service organization staff and volunteers
  • Case managers and community health workers
  • Chaplains and faith leaders
  • Social workers, counselors, and behavioral health professionals
  • Anyone looking to build practical suicide response skills

No prior suicide prevention training is required.

Certifications & CEUs

Upon completion, this session qualifies for continuing education units (CEUs) and professional certifications:

  • Safety Planning Intervention: 1-year certification | 4 CEUs

To request your certificate and a CEU submission form for state certification, please email us after attending the training..

This Event is Open To

This training is designed for anyone who may find themselves supporting someone experiencing suicidal thoughts or concerns, including:

  • Military and veteran spouses, partners, family members, and friends
  • Service members and veterans
  • Peer support specialists and peer leaders
  • Veteran service organization staff and volunteers
  • Case managers and community health workers
  • Chaplains and faith leaders
  • Social workers, counselors, psychologists, and other behavioral health professionals looking to strengthen foundational suicide assessment and safety planning skills
  • Students, interns, and trainees preparing for careers in behavioral health, social services, or related helping professions
  • Anyone looking to build practical suicide response skills

About Suicide Prevention Training

Suicide prevention trainings help prepare individuals to respond to someone in crisis. You’ll learn how to recognize risk, offer support, and take meaningful steps to keep someone safe. Download our Suicide Prevention Toolkit for practical tools, resources, and guidance to support someone in crisis.

Learn More
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Take the First Step Toward Suicide Prevention–Sign up Today!

Looking for one-on-one support? Peer 2 Peer Connect pairs you with a trained VSN Peer Leader for individualized support. For more resources and updates, follow @veteranspousenetwork and subscribe to the VSN Newsletter. Questions or concerns? We’re here to help at vsn@austin.utexas.edu. 

Frequently Asked Questions

This training is designed for adults who want to learn how to support youth (ages 12-18) experiencing mental health challenges, not for youth themselves.

No, you’ll need to complete the required pre-course work before attending the live session. This self-paced portion is essential to help you get the most out of the training and come prepared to fully participate.

You will be given access to the pre-course work 2 weeks prior to the training date.

No, MHFA Instructors and First Aiders do not diagnose or provide therapy. Only licensed professionals can diagnose. Their role is to recognize signs, offer support, and connect people to appropriate help. MHFA is not a replacement for professional care.

To receive your certificate of completion and a CEU submission form for state certification, please email us after completing the full training. You’ll be responsible for submitting the form to your state or licensing board for CEU credit approval.

For the best experience, we recommend completing all pre-course work before the session, joining from a quiet, distraction-free space and arriving on time, as participants who join more than 15 minutes late may not be admitted. Be sure to have your Zoom link ready from your confirmation email.

You must register at least one week or 168 hours before an event. Most programs are ongoing series with multiple dates. Please check our calendar for upcoming sessions.

No, all events are completely free to attend. We are a grant-based program and believe in removing barriers to connection and support and are proud to offer these sessions at no cost to our community.

No—VSN is based at the University of Texas at Austin’s Institute for Military & Veteran Family Wellness, but we are a nationwide network open to any military-connected individuals in the US and beyond.

Participant Safety Reminder:

The Veteran Spouse Network (VSN) is committed to providing a supportive and respectful environment where participants can connect with peers and share their experiences. 

Because participant safety is our highest priority, confidentiality is not absolute. If a VSN Peer Leader or staff member becomes concerned that a participant or another person may be at risk of serious harm, we may take steps to support safety. Depending on the situation, this could include notifying VSN staff, providing crisis resources, contacting emergency services, making reports required by law, or taking other reasonable actions to protect safety. 

VSN is a non-clinical peer support program and does not provide emergency services, crisis counseling, therapy, case management, legal advice, or domestic violence advocacy. However, we are committed to connecting participants with appropriate resources when safety concerns arise. 

By participating in VSN programs, you acknowledge and understand these limits of confidentiality and VSN’s commitment to participant safety.

Related Events

Modalities

Virtual

Session Types

Training

Eligibility

Spouse/Partner of a Service Member, Spouse/Partner of a Veteran, Divorcee of a Service Member/Veteran, Widow/Widower of a Service Member/Veteran, Family Member/Caregiver of a Service Member/Veteran, Service Member/Veteran and Provider/Supporter