Colorado Springs veterans' groups partner for mental health symposium

Mar. 28—American Legion Post 209 and the Veterans Trauma Court Mentor Team will host a suicide prevention symposium, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at 3613 Jeannine Drive in Colorado Springs.

Presenters include Brian Murphy, who will discuss the VA S.A.V.E. program, a free online or in-person course that provides training on how friends and loved ones can act with "care and compassion" when a veteran in their lives is in crisis.

Daniel Schreiter, a combat veteran and licensed clinical therapist with the Springs' Resurgence of Life Counseling and Consulting, will speak about suicide awareness and prevention.

It's estimated that as many as 22 American veterans die by suicide each day, a rate that's more than 50% higher than among the non-veteran adult population.

The American Legion's goal is to reduce that number, saving at least one life each day, by using "every Department, every Post, every resource and the entire American Legion family to do so," according to a pamphlet announcing the symposium.

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Jeff Heischman, an officer with American Legion Post 209, said Saturday's event is one example of what the veterans' organization is doing to try to achieve that life-saving outcome.

"I'm hoping that they will leave the symposium with the knowledge that, when they're talking to a veteran, they can recognize the symptoms of a veteran possibly considering suicide," Heischman said. "Then they can either talk to that veteran themselves or advise the veteran of other resources that can help them."

Event sponsors include Combat to Community, a nonprofit that supports and provides services for veterans, and Cedar Springs Hospital.

A catered breakfast starts 9 a.m., with speaker presentations to follow.

The symposium is free to attend. For more information, call 719-482-4357 or visit the post's website, legion209.org.

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