NEWPORT — The Vermont Suicide Prevention Center (VTSPC), a public-private partnership of the Center for Health and Learning and the Vermont Agency of Human Services, is inviting all to register to attend the 2022 Vermont Suicide Prevention Symposium.
The Symposium will occur virtually at the end of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month on Thursday, September 29th, 2022.
Visit https://vermontsuicidepreventionsymposium.org/ to register.
Northeast Kingdom (NEK) resident Terri Lavely, MS, a member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention VT Chapter board, field advocate, trainer, and Walk Chair, will be a featured Keynote Speaker.
Terri volunteers to strengthen programs and advocacy across Vermont by supporting AFSP missions and values.
“Suicide awareness and prevention is a community effort and responsibly. In the NEK we value mental health the same as all other aspects of wellbeing” shared Lavely. “ It is powerful to see how we all come together as a community at events like the VTSPC symposium to show our support as friends, neighbors, and community members”
From 2000 to 2016, suicide rates increased by more than 30% across the United States, and VT saw the second-highest increase (46.5%) in the nation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Fatal Injury Report of 2018 and the AFSP Vermont State Fact Sheet (2018), suicide is the eighth leading cause of death across all age groups in the state of Vermont.
CHL received several compelling applications from presenters at the Symposium and is pleased to confirm the following topics for the event:
- The Trauma Informed Care Approach to Suicide Prevention
- Stopping Stigma in School: Bringing Mental Health Awareness Education & Suicide Prevention to Schools
- Preparing the Peer Support Workforce to Support People in Crisis
- Youth Suicide Prevention in Primary Care
- Suicide Prevention in High-Risk Work Environments
- Post-Crisis Response: Keeping the Revolving Door Effect in Check
- Suicide Prevention Programming for Children and Adolescents in K – 12 Schools
- The Impact of Suicide on Mental Health Clinicians: What We Know, What We Can Do
The Symposium is sponsored by the Vermont Department of Mental Health, Vermont Department of Health–Facing Suicide, Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care, Inc., University of Vermont Medical Center, OneCare Vermont, Chroma Technology, Vermont Department of Health Maternal and Child Health, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, United Way of Northwest Vermont–Mental Health Initiative, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, North Country Hospital, New England Public Health Technology Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense.
Since its inception, the Symposium has been a significant avenue for introducing best practices for preventing suicide in Vermont.
For more information about the event, contact the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center Director, Kirk Postlewaite, at [email protected].
Click here to find out more about sponsorship opportunities!
And: scholarships are available–email: [email protected] to find out more!
