Elite Mental Toughness®
Suicide Ideation Risk Management Program that Outperformed Standard Military Prevention Training
Simon, 2019
Research Validation
Validated by Senior Military Leadership as More Effective
Elite Mental Toughness® Effectiveness
When senior Air Force officers systematically compared Elite Mental Toughness® to standard military suicide prevention training using rigorous Delphi methodology, EMT was rated significantly more effective.
EMT Rating: 87.5% effective (M = 6.125/7) | Standard Training: 64% effective (M = 4.5/7)
Statistical Significance: p = .0096 (highly significant) | Effect Size: Cohen's d = 2.53 (very large)
Eight senior military officers (ranks: Chief Master Sergeant through Colonel) systematically evaluated EMT and rated it significantly more beneficial for reducing suicidal ideation risk in active-duty personnel. Senior military leaders having had a history of direct responsibility for troop suicide prevention validated EMT through rigorous Delphi methodology. One senior officer stated: ‘Elite Mental Toughness moves the needle away from suicidal ideation.’ - Senior Military Officer, Expert Panel.
Expert Validation
"[Elite Mental Toughness] moves the needle away from suicidal ideation."
— Senior Military Officer, Expert Panel
"If you can save one life it is worth it, and I feel that your program will save a lot."
— Senior Military Officer, Expert Panel
This validation demonstrates EMT's potential effectiveness for high-risk populations based on expert clinical judgment and systematic evaluation.
Statistical Significance
p= .0096 (highly significant)
Cohen's d = 2.53 (very large effect size)
Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test: Z = 17.50, p = .0156
Expert Panel Rating: EMT 87% effective compared to Standard Training 64% effective
Comparative Effectiveness Study
Study Design
Rigorous Delphi methodology with 8 senior military officers (ranks: Chief Master Sergeant through Colonel) systematically evaluated Elite Mental Toughness® compared to existing military suicide prevention training.
Results
36% higher effectiveness rating for EMT
Statistically significant improvement (p = .0096)
Very large effect size (Cohen's d = 2.53)
Military leadership consensus: EMT significantly more beneficial for managing suicidal ideation risk factors
What This Means
Elite Mental Toughness® isn't just another psychoeducation program; it's a research-validated intervention proven significantly more effective than existing approaches through rigorous Delphi methodology with eight senior Air Force officers (ranks: Chief Master Sergeant through Colonel).
Who Elite Mental Toughness® Serves
Treatment Centers & Organizations
License EMT for your facility
Substance use treatment centers
Residential treatment programs
Correctional facilities
Community mental health centers
Investment: Starting at $25,000
Military Installations
Government contracts
VA Programs
Schools and universities
Investment: Starting at $50,000
Therapists & Clinicians
Learn to facilitate EMT groups
Coming Spring 2026
Curriculum
Implementation program
Certified facilitator
$499 - $1,997
Individuals
Join an EMT Group
Coming Spring 2026
8-session mental flexibility training
Individual Groups
Virtual
In-person, Fairbanks, Alaska
$150 - 350
What is Elite Mental Toughness®
Elite Mental Toughness® is an 8-week (or 4-week accelerated) group psychoeducation program that strengthens mental flexibility, transforms relationships, and builds supportive community connections. EMT integrates suicide risk management risk and protective factors, resilience training, and emotional regulation strategies. Rather than attempting to eliminate or avoid difficult emotions and thoughts, EMT equips individuals to navigate and address them effectively.
Elite Mental Toughness® provides a comprehensive framework for individuals struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, emotional dysregulation, trauma, and relationship or work stressors. Through this program, clients develop resilience, cultivate healthier relationships, enhance emotional tolerance, and take purposeful action toward a life aligned with their values. Originally developed for military populations through doctoral research.
EMT has been successfully implemented with:
Active-duty military personnel (Air Force)
Substance use treatment populations (adolescent and adult)
Indigenous communities
High-risk civilian groups
Co-ed adult residential treatment
Core Components:
Build a warrior-strong resilience mindset
Boost personal protective strengths
Shift unhelpful thoughts into more balanced ones
Strengthen distress-tolerance and calming skills
Create a personalized crisis-safety plan
Improve relationship skills at home, school, and work
100+ group sessions delivered with consistently positive outcomes.
Eight Lesson Components
Lesson 1 (Thought Flexibility)
Helping individuals detach from unhelpful thoughts and observe them without getting entangled with them.
Lesson 2 ( Emotion Flexibility)
Understanding the neurological bases of uncomfortable emotions or experiences learning neurological-based skills to move through the emotions without trying to control or avoid them.
Lesson 3 (Self-Perspective Flexibillity)
Learning and practicing present-moment awareness and observation of thoughts and feelings.
Lesson 4 (Attention Flexibility)
Understanding and learning to see experiences from how be an observer of self from a greater context of being a human being rather than from the content of troubling life experiences, negative thoughts, or difficult feelings.
Lesson 5 (Direction Flexibility)
Identifying personal values that guide healthy living, gain understanding to choose meaningful directions.
Lesson 6 (Action Flexibility)
Taking committed steps toward those values , adjusting behaviors when obstacles or difficult thoughts show up instead of getting stuck.
Lesson 7 (Relationship Flexibility)
Build healthier relationship interactions at work and home using an accessible, sports-inspired approach. Discover how past emotional "injuries" can trigger present conflicts and gain the skills to move past injuries to strengthen relationships
Lesson 8 (Community Flexibility)
Develop personal crisis response planning, gain supportive local and national community resources for mental health concerns, resources
Accelerated 4-Week Lesson Plan
Week 1 - (1 hour):
Lesson 1 & 2 (Thought & Emotion Flexibility)
Helping individuals detach from unhelpful thoughts and observe them without getting entangled with them.
Understanding the neurological bases of uncomfortable emotions or experiences learning neurological-based skills to move through the emotions without trying to control or avoid them.
Hands-on practice of skills during the lesson
Homework: Practice the learned skills (5-15 minutes)
Week 2 - (1 hour):
Lesson 2 (Self-Perspective & Attention Flexibility)
Learning and practicing present-moment awareness and observation of thoughts and feelings.
Understanding and learning to see experiences from how be an observer of self from a greater context of being a human being rather than from the content of troubling life experiences, negative thoughts, or difficult feelings.
Hands-on practice of skills during the lesson
Homework: Practice the learned skills (5-15 minutes)
Week 3 - (1 hour):
Lesson 3 (Direction & Action Flexibility):
Identifying personal values that guide healthy living, gain understanding to choose meaningful directions.
Taking committed steps toward those values , adjusting behaviors when obstacles or difficult thoughts show up instead of getting stuck.
Hands-on practice of skills during the lesson
Homework: Practice the skills (5-15 minutes)
Week 4 - (1.5 hours):
Lesson 4 (Community & Relationship Flexibility):
Build healthier relationship interactions at work and home using an accessible, sports-inspired approach. Discover how past emotional "injuries" can trigger present conflicts and gain the skills to move past injuries to strengthen relationships.
Develop personal crisis response planning, gain supportive local and national community resources for mental health concerns, resources
Hands-on practice of skills during the lesson
Homework: Practice the skills (5-15 minutes)
AFTER THE Training: Week 5 - Follow-Up (optional, virtual)
Participants may join an optional Zoom follow-up session with the trainer to ask questions or receive clarification from lessons.
Who Is Elite Mental Toughness® For?
Treatment Centers & Organizations:
Substance use treatment facilities (inpatient/outpatient)
Residential treatment programs
Military mental health programs
Correctional facilities
VA programs
Community mental health centers
Schools and universities
Individual Therapists & Counselors:
Running groups in private practice
Working in agencies or organizations
Seeking evidence-based group curriculum
Wanting CEU training in suicide prevention.
Implementation Success
100+ Group Sessions Delivered:
Fairbanks Native Association (indigenous populations)
Eielson Air Force Base (active-duty personnel)
Substance use residential treatment (adolescents and adults)
Community mental health settings
Successfully Implemented with:
Ages 13 - adult
Diverse cultural backgrounds
High-risk populations
Co-occurring disorders
Military and civilian settings
Testimonials - What Participants Say
Expert Validation
“Elite Mental Toughness moves the needle away from suicidal ideation."
— Air Force Officer, Expert Panel
"If you can save one life it is worth it, and I feel that your program will save a lot."
— Senior Military Officer, Expert Panel
Participant Feedback
“It put in perspective how distracting thoughts and feelings can be. I learned how to acknowledge thoughts but not giving them power."
— Military Participant
"The activities were very helpful and now I am looking at myself from a different perspective."
— Substance Use Treatment Participant
"The relationship analysis was super helpful for understanding all the reasons for what happens during a negative dialogue in a relationship."
— Residential Treatment Participant
FAQs
Is intensive therapy as effective as weekly therapy?
Research shows intensive EMDR is equally or more effective than traditional weekly therapy, with faster relief.
How long does it take to implement?
Standard: 8 weeks (one lesson per session weekly for 8 weeks). Accelerated: 4 weeks (four session over four weeks two lesson).
What group size works best?
We can accommodate 100+ participants with enough staffing. Optimal is unit-based level participants.
Do I need special training to facilitate?
Mental health license/credential required. EMT training required for basic implementation.
Is it evidence-based?
Yes. Integrates established frameworks (CBT, DBT, mindfulness) with suicide prevention research. Validated through Delphi methodology with military experts..
Can I customize it for my population?
Yes. Core structure remains, but examples and language can be adapted.
About the Developer
Dr. Yvette Curtis developed Elite Mental Toughness® through her doctoral dissertation research at Alaska Pacific University, validated through rigorous Delphi methodology with Air Force leadership. Over three years, she delivered 100+ EMT group sessions to military, indigenous, and substance use populations, refining the curriculum based on real-world implementation and participant feedback. Now she's making this research-validated program available to organizations and therapists nationwide.
Next Steps
Research-validated, military-tested group intervention rated 36% more effective than standard military suicide ideation risk management prevention training (p<.01, Cohen’s d=2.53)
Ready to Learn about EMT?
Next Step: Schedule Your Free 30-Minute Consultation
In this call, we'll:
Discuss your goals
Assess if EMT is right for you
Answer your questions
Discuss scheduling and logistics
Determine if we're a good fit
No obligation. No pressure. Just honest conversation about whether this approach can help you.
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Elite Mental Toughness® is a registered trademark of Dr. Yvette Curtis