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Preventing Veteran Suicide

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Description

To bring awareness to suicide prevention among veterans, one can select from the following:

  • Handout display: a display of handouts regarding suicide prevention or a table set with handouts during a guest speaker's presentation. Recommended handouts are listed in the Additional Resources/Bibliography section.
  • TV display: a library tv display to play short films about suicide prevention in between other library content. Recommended videos are listed in the Additional Resources/Bibliography section.
  • Guest speaker: a health care professional to talk about suicide prevention. A health care professional from your local hospital or health clinic. Someone with expertise in suicide prevention concerning the military.

Audience

Active military, cadets, community, family, spouses, and veterans   

Cost

Presenter (a health care professional from your local hospital or health clinic. Someone with expertise in suicide prevention concerning to the military.)

  • $0 – $450 (It may vary depending on the presenter. It can be based upon time, number of attendees, supplies used, travel, and etc) 

Light refreshments

  • $25 - $100 (depends on the number of attendees. For instance, the following items can be provided water, cookies, munchkins, or other small pastries)

Timing 

Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month in September 

Suggested Duration

Handout display (recommended handouts are listed in the Additional Resources/Bibliography section)

  •  It should take an hour to set up and display of handouts should be displayed for the whole month of September

Guest speaker (a health care professional from your local hospital or health clinic. Someone with an expertise in suicide prevention in relation to the military)

  • 45 to 60 minutes 

Resources needed 

Handout display (recommended handouts are listed in the Additional Resources/Bibliography section)

  • Area to display handouts  
  • Handouts regarding suicide prevention

  
Program set-up (guest speaker)  

  • Available room  
  • Chairs (theatre style)  
  • Refreshments (optional)  
  • PowerPoint (or presentation software)  
  • Computer  
  • Projector  
  • Cord needed to connect the computer to projector input on the wall or directly to the projector  
  • Microphone  

  
Flyers  

  • Graphic designing program  

  
Marketing  

  • Social media  
  • Flyers  
  • Newspaper article  
  • Email blast to patrons 

Tips for Success

Plan 4 months prior to the date and finalize the event 3 months prior to the date.

Assessment Ideas

  1. Attendees – the number of people attending the program or viewing the exhibit in comparison to other similar programs held in that month. 
  2. Survey – asking the patrons various questions regarding the program.

Partners and Stakeholders

A health care professional from your local hospital or health clinic. Someone with expertise in suicide prevention concerning the military.

Additional Resources/Bibliography

Websites that can be added to a research guide for patrons.

Videos (for Library’s TV Displays in between other content) 

Handouts to be handed out or put on display.

Submitted by 

Dr. Bianca Brillant, Department of Veterans Affairs

Public Domain

This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Foreign copyrights may apply.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LG-12-19-0114).

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.