New Jersey’s 8th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference
Embracing Life: 988 and the Path to Hope

date Date: 10-19-2023
timeTime: 9:00 EST

Agenda

Agenda

time iconOctober 19, 2023 09:00 am

Welcome & Introduction to the Event

speaker headshot

Dr. Maria Kirchner
NJ Department of Health

speaker headshot

Allison Kusznikow
NJ Department of Human Services

New Jersey's Suicide Prevention Committee co-leads, Ally Kusznikow and Dr. Maria Kirchner, welcome attendees and give an overview of the day.

time iconOctober 19, 2023 09:10 am

NJ Suicide Statistics

speaker headshot

Bretta Jacquemin
NJ Department of Health

time iconOctober 19, 2023 09:05 am

DHS Message

The Department of Human Services addresses a message from the Department and begins the event.

time iconOctober 19, 2023 09:20 am

Dr. Clancy Martin: How Not to Kill Yourself: A Portrait of the Suicidal Mind

speaker headshot

Dr. Clancy Martin
Author

Clancy Martin will be discussing his personal experience as a survivor of multiple suicide attempts, with the goal of helping others understand how suicidal thinking works from the inside. He will also be suggesting simple techniques and lessons from great thinkers that have helped him to avoid making an attempt and that will help others in crisis.

time iconOctober 19, 2023 10:05 am

988 and the Crisis Continuum Panel Discussion

speaker headshot

Mary Jean Weston
NJ Department of Human Services

speaker headshot

Jesse Szwed
Contact of Mercer

speaker headshot

Natacha White
Cumberland Urgent Care

speaker headshot

Kate Donovan
Monmouth Medical Center

time iconOctober 19, 2023 11:00 am

AM Breakout Session: Preventing Firearm Suicide

speaker headshot

Dr. Michael Anestis
New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center

speaker headshot

Dr. Robert Eilers
NJ Department of Human Services

Learn of the surge in firearm purchases, understand the connection to owning a firearm and the pandemic, and who is at risk of suicide or a suicide attempt.

time iconOctober 19, 2023 11:00 am

AM Breakout Session: Youth Suicide Prevention: Developing Awareness, Assessment, & Connection in Professionals and the Community

speaker headshot

Jeff Carrick
NJ Department of Children and Families Children’s System of Care

speaker headshot

Kalisha Smith
Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide

speaker headshot

Stacy Reh
New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families Children’s System of Care

speaker headshot

Dr. Meera Wells
The Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative

speaker headshot

Maureen Brogan
Traumatic Loss Coalition

speaker headshot

Liz Graham
180 Turning Lives Around- 2NDFLOOR

time iconOctober 19, 2023 11:00 am

AM Breakout Session: First Responder/Frontline Medical Staff

speaker headshot

Tim Seplaki
NJ Department of Health

speaker headshot

Roy Diaz

speaker headshot

Brian Taylor

speaker headshot

Eric Hicken
NJ Department of Health

time iconOctober 19, 2023 11:00 am

AM Breakout Session: Suicide in Societal Context

speaker headshot

Steve Crimando
NJ Department of Human Services

speaker headshot

Megan Sullivan
NJ Department of Human Services

time iconOctober 19, 2023 11:50 am

Lunch

time iconOctober 19, 2023 12:20 pm

Dr. Petros Levounis: Addiction: The Missing Link in Suicide Prevention

speaker headshot

Dr. Petros Levounis
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

This talk will focus on the state of addiction science, substances and behaviors, treatments, and social context in 2023. The lecturer will also address the link between addiction and suicide. 

time iconOctober 19, 2023 01:00 pm

Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Suicide

speaker headshot

Steve Crimando
NJ Department of Human Services

As global temperatures rise, climate change’s impacts on mental health are becoming increasingly evident. Recent research has linked elevated temperatures to an increase in violence, stress and decreased cognitive function, as well as suicide rates. Researchers project that up to 21,000 additional suicides will occur by 2050 within the United States and Mexico if climate change continues to warm the Earth at the current projected rates. Even small changes in suicide rates due to climate change could result in large human costs that all society must begin to anticipate.

time iconOctober 19, 2023 01:30 pm

Peer Providers in Crisis Services Panel Discussion

speaker headshot

Anne Smullen Thieling
Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey

speaker headshot

Carlyn Barnes
Legacy Treatment Services

speaker headshot

Matt Bruno

speaker headshot

Cynthia Camacho
Oaks Integrated Care

time iconOctober 19, 2023 02:30 pm

PM Breakout Session: Vulnerable Populations and Suicide

speaker headshot

JP Pedoto
Family Connections

speaker headshot

Schenike Massie-Lambert, PhD
Rutgers Health - University Behavioral Health Care

speaker headshot

Robert Nagle
Middleton Psychology Services

speaker headshot

Celina Levy
NJ Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

time iconOctober 19, 2023 02:30 pm

PM Breakout Session: From Loss to Light

speaker headshot

Wendy Sefcik
Chair, NJ Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council

speaker headshot

Maureen Brogan
Traumatic Loss Coalition

speaker headshot

Tricia Baker
Attitudes in Reverse

speaker headshot

Shilpa Kulkarni
Shiv’s Third Eye

speaker headshot

Deirdre Allette Asiema
Darren Clark Jr. Memorial Foundation

time iconOctober 19, 2023 02:30 pm

PM Breakout Session: Service Members, Veterans, and their Families

speaker headshot

Vincent Solomeno
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

speaker headshot

Dr. Mike Colston
NJ Department of Health

Get informed about available programs implemented by the Veterans Administration and the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and their coalitions for Veterans at risk of suicide.

time iconOctober 19, 2023 02:30 pm

PM Breakout Session: Approaching the Cliff: A Conversation About Passive Suicide

speaker headshot

Janet Berkowitz
Creative Crisis Care

speaker headshot

Dr. Stacey Freedenthal
University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work

speaker headshot

Amy Hassa

time iconOctober 19, 2023 03:20 pm

Closing Remarks

speaker headshot

Dr. Mike Colston
NJ Department of Health