Description: Interpersonal relationships are a crucial component to health and well-being, in that they impact mental health, health behavior, physical health, and mortality risk (Ross et al., 2019; Umberson & Montez, 2010). Specifically, there is strong evidence to support the positive influence of romantic (Robles et al., 2014; Smith & Baucom, 2017) and non-romantic family relationships (Woods et al., 2020) on overall health and improved health outcomes. Similar results have been found in studies with rural residents (Roberson et al., 2023) and studies examining relationality in American Indian/Alaska Native communities (O’Keefe et al., 2019). Relationship challenges and family stressors are also risk factors for suicide (Hammond et al., 2025; NDSFRC, 2026; Stack, 2021), and improving family and couple relationships can assist with decreasing suicide risk (Li et al., 2025). Therefore, strengthening romantic and family relationships can be a meaningful avenue for upstream suicide prevention for rural and Tribal residents. In this webinar, the presenters discuss relevant research findings regarding the impact of family and couple relationships on health, well-being, and suicide. Then, they will outline how relationship education programs can be used as upstream suicide prevention strategies, which will include presenting data from a project funded by the North Dakota State Suicide Prevention Program focused on service member and Veteran couples. The presenters will discuss the expansion of this program to include rural and Tribal North Dakota couples and families (with teens and adult children) as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program within North Dakota. Although we provide continuing education credits for this webinar, it is relevant for anyone interested in the topic.

Objectives: 1. Describe the positive and negative roles that relationships play in health, well-being, and suicide 2. Examine how an evidence-based weekend relationship workshop can positively impact relationships using data from a project focused on service member and Veteran couples in North Dakota 3. Describe features of an expanded project for rural and Tribal ND couples and families (with teens & adult children)

Presenter(s): Erin Haugen, PhD, LP, CMPC; Dave Jackson, PhD, LP; Katya Mickelson, PhD, LP

Status: Active

Activity Difficulty Level: Essential

Domains:

• Risk Reduction
• Wellness and Health Literacy

Format: Virtual Asynchronous - On Demand

Dual Credentials and JA: Emergency Medical Technicians/Paramedics, Mental Health Professionals, Nursing Professionals, Occupational Therapy Professionals, Other

Start Date & Time: 10/22/2026 11:49 AM CDT

End Date & Time: 10/14/2031 08:00 AM CDT

Cost: $0.00

CEUs: 1.5