2020 UVU Conference on Suicide Prevention
Friday, October 9, 2020
Opening Keynote – Gary Lee Price – (Streaming Online - 9:00 am – 10:00 am)
For Gary Lee Price, uplifting, helping others, and joining hands with others in brotherhood and sisterhood are essential parts of his life and work. Through his art, Gary found a life path of positivity. Despite a childhood of abuse, domestic violence and the loss of both parents at a young age due to murder suicide, Gary forged ahead determined to find the beauty in life. His passion for art and belief that art empowers and lifts the human spirit has only grown stronger. Blessed with many generous and selfless mentors, his dream is to pass those gifts on to others.
Gary’s sculptures are collected and installed in thousands of public and private collections all over the world. His sculptures are also frequently purchased and donated to help suppoort great causes locally and internationally. “I hope I can assist the world in visualizing a place where fences and boundaries, both real and imagined, are non-existent; a place where bias and prejudice are long forgotten; and finally, a place where acts of kindness, mutual respect, and love are everyday happenings,” he said.
Gary resides in Buckeye, Arizona with his beautiful wife, Leesa Clark Price. Together they have 9 children and 15 very energetic grandchildren. View Gary’s work at www.garyleeprice.com and www.statueofresponsibility.com.
Dove Release Ceremony: In Remembrance (Video will be available throughout the day)
Morning Concurrent Sessions (10:30 am – 11:30 am)
Live On: Leveraging the Power of Public-Private Partners to Develop a Statewide Suicide Prevention Campaign: Allison Foust, MHA, CHES – 10:30am-11:30am (Streaming Online)
While suicide is a significant public health problem in Utah, it is also preventable. Unfortunately, the problem is often addressed in silos, with different groups focusing on different parts of the problem. To more effectively reduce the rising rate of suicide, Utah’s public health officials brought together key partners: private companies, religious organizations, health care systems, and academics—and combined their knowledge and influence with the reach of a media campaign. This presentation will focus on the power of these partnerships, the collaborative development of a suicide prevention campaign, and the importance of evaluation.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Panel Discussion: Updates on Suicide Trends During COVID 19: Michael J. Staley, Ph.D. - Moderator – (10:30 am – 11:30 am)
Join Dr. Staley as he leads a panel discussion with experts in mental health, suicide, and suicide prevention. The panel will provide a brief update on trends in suicide morbidity and mortality during COVID19. Additionally, the panel will provide an overview of how the mental health system has adapted and changed during COVID19, and what gaps remain. Also included will be information on how local health care systems have adapted to meet the needs of individuals seeking mental health care during COVID19. Participants in this session will be able to submit questions to the panel for response. We anticipate an engaging conversation between panelists and audience members.
This workshop will be particularly helpful for individuals with at least an intermediate understanding and experience level, but is appropriate for all audiences.
Lunch Break and Exhibit Fair (11:30 AM - 12:30 PM)
Exhibit Fair
Participants are encouraged to attend the Virtual Exhibit Fair during this time frame, but the Fair will remain open throughout the entire day for your convenience. The Fair will feature information regarding services and resources offered by our participating vendors and sponsors. Participants can stroll through the various ‘booths’ – and enter those that interest them by clicking on the ‘booth’ name.
Note: Inclusion of vendors in the Exhibit Fair does not constitute or imply UVU’s endorsement, warranty, or recommendation of information, products, or services of the foregoing; products, services, URLS, or links to external sites referred to, presented, or displayed.
Afternoon Plenary Session -- 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
(Streaming Online)
John R. Jordan, Ph.D.
John (Jack) Jordan is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where he has specialized in work with survivors of suicide and other traumatic losses for more than 40 years. He has served as the Clinical Consultant for the Grief Support Services of the Samaritans in Boston, Massachusetts, and the Professional Advisor to the Loss and Healing Council of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). He also served as the Co-Chair of the Survivors of Suicide Loss Task Force of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. In 2015, this taskforce released postvention guidelines for the United States, titled Responding to Grief, Trauma, and Distress After Suicide: U.S. National Guidelines.
Jack has provided training nationally and internationally for professional caregivers and has helped to lead many healing workshops for suicide loss survivors. He is the co-author of four books: “After Suicide Loss: Coping with Your Grief – 2nd Edition” (2015 – self-published); “Grief After Suicide: Understanding the Consequences and Caring for the Survivors” (Routledge, 2011), “Devastating Losses: How Parents Cope with the Death of a Child to Suicide or Drugs” (Springer, 2012); and “Attachment Informed Grief Therapy” (Routledge, 2016).
Jack’s presentation today is titled "The Impact of Suicide Loss on Survivors". He will discuss the emotional impact of suicide on individuals, common reactions to suicide loss, and why these losses may be different from loss due to other causes of death.
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
LGBTQ+ Populations and Suicidality – Kimberly Anderson, MFA, MA, AMFT (1:45pm – 2:45pm) Streaming Online
Join Kimberly as she leads participants in a trauma-informed, LGBTQ+ cultural competency training, focusing on the unique considerations for the LGBTQ+ population and suicidality. She will particularly discuss local cultural impact particularly with an LDS/Mormon informed subgroup.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Ethics Session: Focus on Ethical Standards in Suicide and Suicide Prevention: Michael Tragakis, PhD and Marianna Krall, LCSW (1:45pm – 2:45pm) Streaming Online
Today’s presentation will discuss ethics regarding suicide and suicide prevention. With a goal of enhancing understanding of both state and national professional and ethical standards; Michael and Marianna will explore a variety of topics pertaining to the issues surrounding ethics involved in suicide and suicide prevention. They will be discussing a variety of ethical dilemmas, while also reviewing key issues and sparking new ways to think about this topic. Presenters aim to facilitate in participants gaining new perspectives on underlying assumptions about care, delivery and clinical competence. They will take a closer look at prevention, intervention and postvention – all the while, paying special attention to the role of clinicians and addressing the code of ethics they adhere to. Michael and Marianna believe that mental health professionals must aim to become more aware of the differing factors (i.e. ethics) associated with suicide and suicide prevention.
This session will be of interest to professionals with an intermediate or moderate level of experience.
Closing Plenary Session -- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW, F-GSA, FT, APHSW-C (3pm – 4 pm) Streaming Online
Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW, F-GSA, FT, APHSW-C is an Associate Professor in the College of Nursing, and the director of Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program at the University of Utah College of Nursing. Dr. Supiano’ s research is in clinical interventions in complicated grief, prevention of adverse grief outcomes, suicide survivorship, overdose grief and prison hospice. She has been a practicing clinical social worker and psychotherapist for over 35 years. Dr. Supiano is a Fellow in the Gerontological Society of America, and a Fellow of Thanatology. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network, the Board of Directors of Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker Certification Board, and the Editorial Board of the Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care. She received her PhD in Social Work at the University of Utah as a John A. Hartford Foundation Doctoral Fellow.
Kathie will close out our conference program for this year discussing grief and comfort as related to suicidality.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
