AAEP Event Calendar
Webinar: Dept. of Veterans Affairs Lecture Series: Whole Health as Suicide Prevention
Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Category: Events

Whole Health as Suicide Prevention

When: April 122023 2:00pm EST

Cost: Free

Accreditations/CE: JA IPCE, ACCME, ACCME-NP, ACPE, ANCC, APA, ASWB, NYSED-P, ASWB, NBCC, AOTA

1-hour CE available for those who:

  • Pre-register and attend the live lecture
  • Take the recorded course in TMS or TRAIN

How to register: Non-Veterans Affairs employees must create a free account when prompted on the registration page

About the webinar: Older adults have risk factors for suicide such as social isolation, loneliness, loss, and decreased functioning and mobility. For Veterans, engagement in a Whole Health system can help create a sense of purpose and social connection, a commitment to self-care activities, and a trusting relationship with health care professionals. This month, Jennifer Patterson, PhD, ABPP and Kathy Hedrick, PhD, will discuss the use of holistic measures to promote meaning and purpose in Veterans' lives and address suicide prevention. Information on how to integrate Whole Health will result in better Veteran care.

Following this live, knowledge-based webinar, clinicians and health care teams will be able to:

  • Describe the Whole Health System;
  • Discuss the relationship of purpose and self-care as protective factors;
  • Identify at least one strategy for connecting with the Veteran's mission, aspiration and purpose;
  • Describe resources related to Whole Health and Suicide Prevention

Presenters: Dr. Jennifer Patterson, PhD, ABPP and Dr. Kathy Hedrick, PhD

  • Dr. Jennifer Patterson is the National Director for Integrated Services with the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP). In this position she serves as a member of the OMHSP Executive Leadership Team and has direct oversight for the integration of mental and behavioral health care into medical settings and the integration of Whole Health across mental health programs. Dr. Patterson is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and is board certified in Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology via the American Board of Professional Psychology. She is committed to values-driven leadership, investing in people and cutting-edge innovation, and translating strategic vision into measurable healthcare transformation. In support of health and well-being, Dr. Patterson enjoys fishing and hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains and spending time with her husband, mischievous parrot and 2 exuberant dogs.
  • Dr. Kathy Hedrick is a Senior Consultant with the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation (OPCC&CT). In this position, she leads the work for Whole Health in Oracle Cerner integration, the Coding and Tracking team, and is Chair of the Whole Health Clinical Care Task Force. She works as the primary contact for OPCC&CT for the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Dr. Hedrick is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and, prior to joining OPCC&CT, worked for several years as a psychologist in VHA focusing on trauma processing with Veterans who have experienced Combat and Military Sexual related traumas. Dr. Hedrick lives and works out of North Carolina and, in support of her health and well-being, is currently training for her fifth half marathon.
Register Now

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide Risk Management Lecture Series is a free, live webinar offered on the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 2-3pm EST. The lectures are designed for providers working with Veterans at risk for suicide. They cover a broad range of suicide prevention topics including best practices in suicide risk assessment, risk stratification, culturally competent suicide prevention interventions, and postvention practices.