Overwatch Project Veteran and Military Family Member Learning Session

Veteran and military family members, we want to hear from you!

Join us for an important opportunity to directly impact an innovative veteran suicide prevention initiative that is saving lives. In this event, we will host a learning discussion about an important (and often sensitive) topic: firearms and suicide prevention. The purpose of this event is for the Overwatch Project team to learn from military and veteran spouses, partners, and family members as we build out a new program specifically focused on the needs of veteran family members.

About the initiative: With the Overwatch Project (www.overwatchproject.org), we have built the equivalent of the “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk” peer intervention campaign for veterans and service members, only instead of talking about alcohol and vehicles, it is focused on guns and suicide. It empowers veterans to Just FKN Ask and intervene with at-risk buddies, asking to temporarily hold onto their firearms or take protective storage measures – before it’s too late. This initiative equips veterans and those who care about them with new ways to save lives, through comprehensive training, outreach and engagement programs crafted in a blunt, authentic veteran voice.

About the new family member program: We are now expanding to develop new resources, tools and training specifically tailored to the needs of family members, empowering them to have similar conversations about firearms when suicide is a risk in the home. We are seeking input from family members who would be willing to share their thoughts, challenges, and experiences around the issue of firearms when suicide or self-harm is a risk. This input will be invaluable as we build trainings, conversation guides and other tools. Note: this is NOT a research project; rather, we are seeking guidance and input from Mil/Vet family members that will have an immediate, direct impact on resources for family members that will launch this year.