2021 Virtual Youth Suicide Prevention Conference: Increasing Awareness and Support
Date: September 23, 2021
Time: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm ET
Location: via Zoom
Conference Overview
The Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention in partnership with Berkshire Health Systems, The Brien Center, NAMI Berkshire County, The Austen Riggs Center, Massachusetts Department of Public Health; Suicide Prevention Program, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention are proud to offer this year’s conference and continuing education credits free of charge.
Per the Center for Disease Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-34. For ages 10-24, the rate of suicide deaths has increased every year since 2007. Between 2007 and 2018 rates have increased 57.4% nationally, and despite Massachusetts being one of the states with the lowest overall suicide rates, suicide deaths in Massachusetts have increased 64.1% during this same period. Also, per the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Berkshire County has chronically been among the counties with the highest rates of suicide in the Commonwealth.
In addition, the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) reports that, LGBTQ+ Youth are at an increased risk for attempting suicide. According to AAS, being LGBTQ+ is not a risk factor in and of itself; however, the minority stressors that LGBTQ+ individuals encounter – such as discrimination and harassment – are directly associated with suicidal behavior as well as indirectly with risk factors for suicide.
In order to combat these trends, this conference aims to increase knowledge in Berkshire County of:
National and local data trends in suicide deaths with a focus on youth
The impact of trauma on youth
Key resources in Berkshire County for youth and their support systems
How to support the LGBTQ+ youth community in Berkshire County specifically
How to incorporate resiliency and self-care into the context of suicide prevention
Continuing education credits are available for the following:
Psychology
Nursing
*Applications for CEs have been submitted and are pending for LMHC, Social Work, LADC, Nursing and Psychology
Conference Sponsors
Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Berkshire Health Systems, The Brien Center, NAMI Berkshire County, The Austen Riggs Center, Massachusetts Department of Public Health; Suicide Prevention Program, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Kripalu Center.