UnityPoint Health® Hosts CALM Training to Support Suicide Prevention

A simple conversation can save a life, and that’s exactly what participants will learn during a free training session hosted by UnityPoint Health® and the Quad Cities Veterans Engagement Board (CVEB.)
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) training program is designed to help people feel more comfortable talking with someone who may be thinking about suicide and to understand how reducing access to lethal means can make a critical difference.
The free training session will be held Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CityView Celebrations at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline, IL.
“Sometimes, it’s the small, caring conversations that can change a person’s path,” says Sherri DeVrieze, military program coordinator at UnityPoint Health – Trinity and CVEB co-chair. “CALM gives people the confidence and tools to have those difficult talks in a way that’s compassionate and effective.”
The training will be led by Deb Moeller, LCSW, LMSW, and Peggy Dickey, LISW, suicide prevention specialists from the Iowa City VA and certified CALM trainers. Participants will learn about suicide prevention basics and how to safely talk about access to lethal means through role play and by practicing real-life scenarios.
“By learning how to talk about safety and access in a supportive way, we can truly help save lives,” says Moeller. “The more people who are prepared to have these conversations, the stronger our community becomes.”
“What I learned during CALM training has stuck with me. I feel prepared and more importantly, I feel like I can truly make a difference just by listening and asking the right questions,” says Natalie Woodhurst, a past CALM training participant.
The session is open to mental health professionals, healthcare providers, social workers, substance abuse counselors, law enforcement, hotline responders, suicide prevention coalitions, Veteran service providers and anyone who may encounter someone in crisis.
Registration is required. Please register online.