Colorado State University, Statewide Partners to Host Annual Suicide Prevention and Awareness Conference in Denver

The Colorado Injury Control Research Center at Colorado State University and prominent suicide prevention organizations will host the annual “Bridging the Divide: Suicide Prevention and Awareness Summit” at the Marriott Denver Tech Center May 17 to promote efforts that impact the suicide rate in Colorado.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Promoting Collaboration and Wellness: Implementing the National Strategy in Colorado.” In partnership with the Office of Suicide Prevention and the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado, CSU will present information about topics such as new prevention methods and intervention opportunities as well as programs designed to reach people in all aspects of life. The summit is meant to forge new partnerships and to bridge the divide between people in need and lifesaving programs, initiatives and services.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. with check-in followed by three keynote speakers throughout the day and several breakout sessions. The conference will conclude with a Closing Healing Ceremony at 4:15 p.m.

Speakers include:

• Jerry Reed, director of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, who will talk about national strategy.
• Dr. Russel Copelan, director of the Forensic Sciences Research Center, who also coordinates cadaver anatomical and neuroanatomy studies from Mesa University. He’ll discuss “An Introduction to Youth Nonideation Suicidality.”
• Dr. Mark Fallon-Cyr from Southwest Colorado Mental Health will talk about the need for universal prevention in addressing suicide.

Breakout session topics include:

• Means restriction and suicide prevention
• Follow-up and suicide prevention: A crisis line’s role
• An innovative approach to working with patients who have attempted suicide or expressed ideation in the ER
• Suicide education in mental health training
• Supporting loved ones after a suicide attempt
• Youth education and safety in schools: Suicide prevention and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department
• Paths to a successful life

Registration, which is $135, is available until May 13. To register, go to http://col.st/13tILMb.
Additional pre-conference sessions are available including an eight-hour Mental Health First Aid Training course May 16.

For more information, visit http://www.suicidepreventioncolorado.org/bridging-the-divide-2013.html.

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