Previous Symposium Presentations
Find presentation materials from previous Texas Suicide Prevention Symposiums by clicking on the links below to view or download the full PDF, Word, or PowerPoint files.
2024
Watch the Symposium 2024 Presentations
Morning Session
Morning Session with ASL Interpreter
Afternoon Session
Afternoon Session with ASL Interpreter
PDF Presentations
On the Horizon: Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of Texans
Tammy Weppelman
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988 Update: Texas Suicide Prevention Symposium
Richard McKeon
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Updates from the State Suicide Prevention Team: Advancements and Initiatives
Tammy Weppelman, Samantha Zackary, and Jennifer Cruttsinger
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No One Fights Alone: Suicide Prevention in Law Enforcement
Dr. David Rozek
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YAM Impact
Dr. Madhukar Trivedi
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Good Therapy Is Hard Work: Supershrinks and Feedback Loops
Dr. Bart Andrews
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AI, Suicide Prevention, and the Underserved
Dr. S. Craig Watkins
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National and Community Approaches
Dr. Deborah Stone
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Integrating National and Local Efforts for Suicide Prevention in Colorado
Katherine Harvey
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The Role of Friends and Family
Dr. Dev Crasta
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Crisis Response Planning for Suicide Prevention: Building Your Toolkit
Dr. David Rozek
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Peri Health
Dr. Latoya Frolov
Reference Material
The Public Health Approach to Veteran Suicide Prevention: The Powerful Role of Connection in Collaborative Community and Clinical Initiatives
Dr. Lisa Kearney
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Department of Defense Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Approach: Opportunities for Synergy
Dr. Alicia Matteson
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A Community Approach to Reduce Suicide in Military Members Transitioning to Civilian Life
Dr. Jill Palmer, Dr. Joe Geraci, General Mike Eastman (retired), and Ashley Craig
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The Defensive Line
Chris and Martha Thomas
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2023
Texas Advancing Suicide Safer Schools Roadmap
This session provides an overview of the 8 elements of a best practice, comprehensive suicide prevention, intervention and postvention plan for school districts.
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Safety Planning for Schools
Dr. Molly Lopez from the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health, University of Texas at Austin, and Laura Gold from Texas HHSC, will provide a detailed review of safety planning protocols in schools.
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Responding to Mental Health Crises in Rural Districts: Prevention, Preparedness, and Protocol
Laura Gold, Melissa Gonzales, Tammy Gendke
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Mental Health, Suicide, & the Power of Community
Haley DeGreve
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Youth Suicide Postvention
Jonathan B. Singer, Ph.D., LCSW
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Higher Education Panel On Suicide
Katy Rudd, Diane Manley, Jennifer Crutsinger, Terri McBryde
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Dr. Courtney Harvey
Federal Efforts to Address Suicide and Suicide Prevention
Dr. Richard McKeon
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Texas Suicide Data: An Update
Jennifer Haussler Garing
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H.O.P.E. Certification: Implementing the National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention
Dr. Sally Spencer Thomas
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Suicide Care Initiative: Insights from the Regional Suicide Care Support Centers
Samm Zachary, Mike Olson, Tiffany Bittner, Teresa Williams, Leivy Resendiz
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Being and Doing: Where Peace and Purpose Meet
Steve Lawson
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988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline National Updates
This presentation will highlight the impact of transitioning the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to 988 in July of 2022 including impacts to volume and federal funding. Connections to crisis services and future opportunities, including impacts to those in Texas reaching out through 988 phone, chat and text will be highlighted. Also, updates in communications planning and resources to use for state and national 988 crisis services will be provided.
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Community Engagement Panel
Jazzie Hamlett, Dyani Banda, Lisa Blinn, Troy Bush-DiDonato, Lisa Sullivan
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Medical Examiner/Coroner’s Role and Responsibilities in Suicide Prevention
Dottie Owens, M.A., D-ABMDI and Judge Wayne L. Mack
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Suicide in Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Adults: Epidemiologic Trends and Strategies for Prevention
Dr. Rajeev Ramchand
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Suicide Prevention across the Department of Defens
George Parisi
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VA Suicide Preventionn
Dr. Matt Miller
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Amplifying Military and Veteran Spouses’ Role in Suicide Prevention
Elisa Borah and Dr. Rajeev Ramchand
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Veteran Statewide Panel
George McEntyre, Dr. Blake Harris, Gabriel Lopez
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Connectedness through Gaming
Tom Cruz, Ann McKee, Dominic A. Emerson, Shae Williams
2022
What Are We Missing? Addressing the Rising Suicide Rates Among Black Youth
Presented by: Michael Lindsey
Suicide is preventable. Sadly, the suicide death rate among Black youth has been found to be increasing faster than any other racial or ethnic group. In this presentation, Dr. Lindsey will discuss signs and symptoms of depression, suicide, and anxiety in Black children. He will also explore the importance of access to care, as well as preventive measures and policy.
Creating a Suicide Safe School Culture: Suicide Safer Schools Roadmap
Presented by: Michael Boehl, Terri McBryde, Holly Robles, PhD
The Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative has developed the Texas Advanced Suicide Safer Schools Roadmap, a guide to developing your own district plan for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. Expert trainers and authors in school and youth suicide prevention will share key points and pro tips from TxSSSR for school personnel in all levels of skill development to develop their own district suicide prevention and intervention plan.
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Pre-teen Suicide Risk and the Need for Upstream Prevention
Presented by: John Ackerman, PhD
Although less prevalent in the teenage years, elementary school-aged children can experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and the reported suicide rate among youth ages 10–14 has nearly tripled in the past decade. Moreover, racial disparities exist such that Black youth are twice as likely to die by suicide than white youth under the age of 12. The possibility of heightened vulnerability during the pandemic will be discussed.
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Promoting Life, Coping with Death: Social Media, Social Connection, and Youth Suicide Prevention
Presented by: Jonathan Singer, PhD
School staff have a unique role in identifying and responding to youth suicide risk. This includes understanding the role of technology, including social media, in youth suicide prevention. When the unthinkable happens, school staff need to understand not only short-term crisis work but also the components of long-term school-based postvention.
Overview: Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium
Presented by: Luanne Southern
The Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC) was created by the 86th Texas Legislature to leverage the expertise and capacity of the health-related institutions of higher education to address urgent mental health challenges and improve the mental health care system in this state in relation to children and adolescents. TCMHCC offers a vast array of resources to schools, primary care providers and others who are addressing the needs of children and adolescents in Texas.
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Update from the State Title IV Office
Presented by: Rod Pruitt
In this presentation, we will provide an update of the efforts of the Title IV, Part A School Safety State Initiative in partnering with the Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative to provide training and guidance to the education service centers and local education agencies in the areas of suicide prevention, reentry, and postvention.
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Working With and Through Local Coalitions to Improve Suicide Prevention Outcomes
Presented by: Jennifer Crutsinger, LPC and Diane Manley
The Resilient Youth Safer Environments (RYSE) Garrett Lee Smith SAMHSA grant supports comprehensive Suicide Safer Early Intervention and Prevention Systems aimed at supporting youth-serving organizations in the Galveston County Region. This presentation will provide an overview of RYSE and discuss how working with local coalitions improves suicide prevention outcomes
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On the Horizon: Suicide Prevention Efforts in 2022
Presented by: Courtney Harvey, PhD
This presentation will dive into HHSC’s suicide prevention goals for 2022. Participants will get a look into HHSC’s team efforts and learn how these resources can build their local communities.
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Preparing for 988: The National Perspective
Presented by: James Wright
This presentation and discussion will focus on the national transition to 988, SAMHSA’s vision for 988 readiness and response, and what it means for Texas crisis services, critical partnerships and collaborations, Lifeline and crisis center response, and ultimately individual crisis care.
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and 988 Planning Grant Overview
Presented by: Reilly Webb
Participants will learn about the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline structure in Texas and be provided an overview of current and future planning efforts related to 988 transition including Texas Health and Human Services Commission priorities.
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Updates from the State Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Presented by: Tammy Weppelman, Bethany Myers, and Jennifer Haussler Garing
At the end of this presentation participants will be able to
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- List three current suicide prevention initiatives in Texas
- Describe populations that experienced changes in suicide mortality and attempts in 2020
- Describe how Texas has incorporated the Zero Suicide framework in the public mental health system
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Self-Reflection: Insights from the 2021 Disney Spirit Awardee
Presented by: Tre Tipton
Tre Tipton, the 2021 Disney Spirit Award’s Most Inspirational College Football Player, will travel through his mental health journey as he faced adversity and trauma from childhood through his college years. Travel this extraordinary path of perseverance through tough struggles with faith and self-determination as he moved through help, healing, and hope.
Flipping the Script: Reidentifying Rural Values as Opportunities to Prevent Suicide
Presented by: Nathaniel Mohatt
Rural communities experience higher and faster growing suicide rates compared to urban areas. There are unique strengths and challenges that contribute to suicide risk and resilience in rural areas. By identifying protective factors and how to leverage them to prevent suicide, we can strengthen strategies within rural communities to reduce suicide deaths.
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Black Suicide Science: Understanding Crisis in a Different Context
Presented by: RL Walker
The path that leads to suicide vulnerability is often characterized singularly such that a specific set of problems are believed to escalate risk. However, suicide deaths among Black adults and youth seem reveal a relatively unique course. Dr. Walker will discuss patterns of suicide death, highlight relevant research from the Culture, Risk, and Resilience Lab, and propose important steps in addressing suicide as a serious but preventable public health concern.
Postvention, Loss, and Grief and the Pivot to Hope, Healing, and Recovery
Presented by: Kate Hardy
Each suicide loss survivor has a unique story, life, and often times grief journey. Kate Hardy is a nine-time suicide loss survivor who was one of the many who did not feel comfortable in traditional and conventional postvention efforts. This panelist will show the positive effects of using novel approaches to reach and address the unmet needs of survivors, acknowledging that traditional activities and services meet many needs for survivors, and thus, have become the status quo, but out-of-the-box thinking could increase preventative and post-care impact.
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So, You Want to Start a LOSS Team?
Presented by: Frank Campbell, PhD
The L.O.S.S. (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) Team is an Active Postvention Model (APM) that was first presented in 1997 as an approach to reduce the elapsed time between a suicide death and those who were impacted seeking local resources for help. The presentation will describe the goals and accomplishments of the L.O.S.S. Program, outline the research results associated with the program, and offer ideas for modeling the program in new areas.
Community-based Interventions for Suicide Prevention: Working Together to End Veteran Suicide
Presented by: Aaron Eagan
The SP 2.0 Community-Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention (CBI-SP) model builds upon VHA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention current efforts and reaches Veterans through facilitating community coalitions focused on ending Veteran suicide. Learn the three focus areas of this evidence-informed model.
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Suicide Prevention in a Diverse Social Service Agency: Tackling the Barriers to Achieving Confidence in Prevention Skills Across All Staff
Presented by: Jill Palmer, DSW, LCSW
Our multifaceted approach to suicide prevention is best dispersed across the organization. A level of confidence across all staff is vitally important to identify clients who are in need of suicide support, management, or crisis intervention. The removal of waiting for client lead behaviors for suicidal identification has been key for our organization, and the use of asking screening questions has allowed us to provide care quickly with excellent results.
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An Update on Suicide and Suicide Prevention in the United States and Texas: Focus on U.S. Veterans
Presented by: Rajeev Ramchand
This presentation will review the most recent data on trends in suicide deaths in the United States and Texas, including during lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, in the general population, and specifically among U.S. Veterans. It will also review suicide risk factors and how risk factors may inform where mitigation strategies should be focused. It will conclude with a discussion of evidence-based strategies for prevention both within health-care settings and outside of such settings.
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Upstream Suicide Prevention: New Initiatives from the Texas Veterans Commission
Presented by: Blake Harris, PhD
This presentation will outline the efforts of Texas Veterans Commission’s Veterans Mental Health Department (VMHD) to reduce Veteran suicide through use of a modified risk-needs-responsivity framework. VMHD’s statewide and local efforts are organized around elevated risk factors including military traumas, justice involvement, homelessness and housing instability, isolation, and limited access to attainable social supports.
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Moral Injury in the Aftermath of Afghanistan
Presented by: Wyatt R. Evans, PhD, ABPP
Learn about the construct of moral injury and describe how this form of biopsychosocial-spiritual suffering may arise following exposure to values violations in the context of military operations. Specifically, the potential morally injurious aspects of war in the post-9/11 era up to and including the recent withdrawal from combat operations in Afghanistan will be highlighted.
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Updates from the Army Suicide Prevention Office
Presented by: Derek Ferrell
The Army CRRT is a visibility tool designed to provide Command Teams at echelon the ability to see and understand risk factors impacting their formations and soldiers (BN/CO level). The intent is for commanders to utilize this tool to better support soldiers and address needs and risk factors in the attempt of adverting crisis to include suicide.
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Texas National Guard – Resources for Prevention to Postvention
Presented by: Shandra Sponsler
This talk will center on the programs and services available to the Texas Military Department to support the health and wellness of the force, as well as resources for prevention to postvention. We will also discuss the role and resources of the Personnel Service Division, how to access them, and how to support the Guard members in your community.
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New Developments in Lethal Means Safety
Presented by: Mike Anestis, PhD
Dr. Anestis will describe the nature and magnitude of the relationship between firearms and suicide and will identify communities particularly vulnerable to this tragedy. He will focus on various strategies for preventing firearm suicide and ongoing efforts to better understand effective messaging surrounding safe firearm storage, emphasizing the potential value of messaging as a public health tool.
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The STRONG STAR Training Initiative: Building Provider Competence in the Delivery of Evidence-based Treatment for PTSD
Presented by: Brooke A. Fina, LCSW, BCD
Treating PTSD has an important role in suicide prevention as PTSD is one of the conditions that is predictive of suicidal behavior. Yet, recent surveys find that less than 20% of community providers are adequately trained to implement evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for PTSD. This presentation will present data on the SSTI program evaluation using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to assess dissemination and implementation outcomes nationally and share information on the training model and opportunities for training for Veteran-serving providers.