New volunteer position within veteran service organizations will help address mental health, substance misuse and suicide prevention in the military community.
The Department of Mental Health (DMH) -Veterans Services is piloting a new initiative in central Missouri that creates a volunteer position within veteran organizations called the Prevention Advocate. These volunteers will raise awareness about the behavioral health issues facing service members, Veterans and their families, promote/host prevention-related trainings, and be a resource for members that are looking to connect with local behavioral health providers for non-emergency needs.
To prepare volunteers for their role, two trainings will be required:
Mental Health First Aid® a skills-based training that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge in adults ages 18 and over.
Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper Training assists participants in learning how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help.
The Prevention Advocate, working closely with the DMH-Veterans Services, will:
- promote awareness and education about mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention through the organization’s media platforms; and
- display materials (brochures and handouts) about local federal and state resources; and
- host behavioral health related training events which may be virtual or in person, at no cost to the participants, and open to the general public (non-members).
It is important to understand the Prevention Advocate role:
- is NOT to be used for individuals in crisis or to take the place of a crisis hotline; and
- is NOT a clinician and cannot provide treatment of any kind.
Future plans for this initiative are to expand these volunteer positions into veteran service organizations across the state.
Anyone in a crisis or who needs to speak with a counselor can text MOSAFE to 741-741 or by dialing 1-800-273-8255 (Veterans press 1). You’re not alone, there is help available.
For more information contact Jon Sabala at DMH at 573-751-2368 or DMH.Veteran@dmh.mo.gov.
Facebook & Twitter: @dmhveteran