Injured Veterans Train to Save Lives with Wounded Warrior Project

COTTAGE GROVE, Minn., April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- While progress has been made in raising awareness of veteran suicide, the sad truth is that some dealing with the visible and invisible wounds of war still choose to end their lives. Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) recently teamed up with the Minnesota Army National Guard to host an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) course for injured veterans and service members. The training provided useful lifesaving skills, and it was an opportunity for warriors to connect and discuss a stark military issue.

Participants took part in an immersive, two-day interactive workshop on suicide first aid. ASIST – a program widely used by healthcare providers – teaches people to recognize the first signs of suicidal thoughts or actions and to create a plan with at-risk individuals to ensure their immediate safety.

"I feel it is of utmost importance to be a good advocate for this important issue in the veteran community, and the more people trained on it, the better," said Marine Corps veteran Harold Standley. "We are on the front lines of this issue, and we have to be aware of the signs so we can do our part."

Upon completion, the team of warriors went into their communities equipped with knowledge that can save lives.

"I've been through a lot of training while in service and as a civilian, but this was the best course I have ever taken," Harold said. "I am so thankful Wounded Warrior Project equipped me with these much-needed skills."

A WWP staff member interacted with warriors and advised them of additional services to support their recoveries. Thanks to generous donors, WWP programs and services are offered free of charge to warriors, their caregivers, and families, and they assist with mental health, physical health and wellness, career and benefits counseling, connecting warriors with one another and their communities, and long-term care for the most seriously wounded.

To learn and see more about how WWP's programs and services connect, serve, and empower wounded warriors, visit http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/, and click on multimedia.

About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) connects, serves, and empowers wounded warriors. Read more at http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project