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Kevin’s
Song 5th
Annual
Virtual
Conference
on
Suicide:
Equity
and
Equality
in
Suicide
Prevention
GROSSE
POINTE
FARMS,
MI -
Michigan’s
largest
conference
on
suicide
– the
Kevin’s
Song 5th
Annual
Virtual
Conference
on
Suicide:
Equity
and
Equality
in
Suicide
Prevention
– will
take
place
virtually,
live and
streamed
from
January
21 – 23,
2021.
The
three-day
online
summit
features
a
prestigious
roster
of
leading
experts
in the
field of
suicide
with
general
and
breakout
sessions
and
supportive
resources
for up
to 1,000
participants.
The
conference
is
presented
by The
Dolores
and Paul
Lavins
Foundation
and
produced
by
Detroit
Public
Television
(DPTV).
The
first
two-days
of
Equity
and
Equality
in
Suicide
Prevention
will
look at
suicide
through
a social
justice
lens,
challenging
existing
bias and
belief
systems.
It will
share
valuable
information
about
suicide,
suicidal
persons
and the
repercussions
of
suicide
at both
the
personal
and
community
levels.
It will
emphasize
prevention
in all
demographics
with a
special
focus on
high-risk
and
underserved
communities.
Additionally,
it also
will
address
fairness
to all
regardless
of one’s
race,
ethnicity,
gender,
ability,
socio-economic
status,
sexual
orientation
or
geographical
location.
“This
year’s
conference
is
especially
important
as the
continuing
pandemic
has
widened
fault
lines
across
society
and
demonstrated
once
more the
fragility
of the
human
condition,”
said
Kevin’s
Song
Co-Founder
Gail
Urso.
“The
pandemic
has
further
exacerbated
mental
health
and
suicide
prevention
issues
for
already
vulnerable
groups
and
individuals
and
brought
to light
the
ongoing
social
justice
issues
right
here in
Michigan,
including
access
to
health
care. We
intend
to
address
these
challenges
head on
at this
year’s
conference
and
invite
anyone
affected
by
suicide
to
please
join
us.”
The
2nd
Annual
School
Summit,
presented
by the
Children’s
Foundation,
runs
concurrently
on the
first
day of
the
conference,
bringing
together
educators
to share
best
practices
about
innovative
programs
for
students,
teachers
and
parents.
School
personnel
are
strongly
encouraged
to
attend.
Continuing
education
credits
for
school
psychologists,
social
workers,
counsellors,
teachers
and
human
resource
professionals
will be
available
for
approved
conference
sessions.
The
Saturday
Program
–
Surviving
Suicide
– is a
journey
of hope
and
healing
that is
dedicated
to
survivors
of
suicide
loss and
attempt
survivors.
Keynote
speakers
will
share
personal
stories
of
suicide
loss,
grief
and
hope. A
portion
of this
program
– a
90-minute
discussion
with a
panel of
survivors
of
suicide
loss –
is FREE
of
charge
and open
to the
public
via a
Facebook
LIVE
broadcast
by
Kevin’s
Song and
DPTV
from
12:30 to
2 p.m.
The
panel
will be
moderated
by Barb
Smith,
founder
and
executive
director
of the
Barb
Smith
Suicide
Resource
&
Response
Network
that is
based in
Saginaw,
Michigan.
This
year’s
conference
also
will
feature
a
virtual
Resource
Gallery,
a
bookstore
courtesy
of the
Self
Esteem
Shop, a
Memorial
Forest
honoring
those
who have
died by
suicide,
and a
special
presentation
on
Saturday
morning
of the
2021
Kevin’s
Song
“Save a
Life”
award to
Sojourner
Jones,
LBSW,
Community
Liaison
for Law
Enforcement,
Detroit
Wayne
Integrated
Health
Network.
Michigan’s
suicide
rate has
been
steadily
increasing
since
2007 and
continues
to
climb.
According
to the
U.S.
Centers
for
Disease
Control
and
Prevention
(CDC),
our
state’s
suicide
rate has
risen 33
percent
since
1999,
higher
than the
national
rate
increase
of 25
percent.
Furthermore,
the
American
Foundation
for
Suicide
Prevention
reports
that
suicide
in our
state is
the
second
leading
cause of
death
for
individuals
10 to 34
years of
age, and
there is
an
average
of one
death by
suicide
every
six
hours in
Michigan.
“We
understand
that
many
pressing
issues
cry out
for
attention
and
resources
at the
present
time,
however,
Michigan’s
suicide
rates
have
reached
epidemic
proportions,”
said
Urso.
“The
urgency
to
provide
mental
health
support
and
raise
awareness
about
suicide
has
never
been
more
important
as the
world
struggles
with the
devastating
effects
caused
by the
coronavirus
alongside
the
issues
of
racism,
hunger,
homelessness
and
economic
disadvantage.
In
navigating
the
journey
from
trauma
to
resilience,
we must
unleash
the
greater
strength
of our
communities
as we
respect,
care
about
and
learn
from
each
other
and
create a
world
without
suicide.”
In order
to have
a more
unified
voice to
advocate
for
changes
and
initiatives
that
will
promote
suicide
education,
training
and
prevention,
Kevin’s
Song has
launched
a
collaborative
initiative,
With One
Voice.
Kevin’s
Song
will
facilitate
an
assembly
of
local,
statewide
and
national
suicide
prevention
groups
and
regional
coalitions,
along
with
mental
health
providers
and
community
mental
health
organizations,
in order
to
explore
how
together
they can
more
effectively
promote
meaningful
change.
At the
conference,
With One
Voice
will
announce
its
priorities
for the
upcoming
year.
Cost to
attend
the
three
(3) day
conference
is $175.
The cost
for the
Thursday
School
Summit
program
is $100.
If
purchased
separately,
the
Saturday
morning
Survivor
program
is $25.
Student
rates
are
available.
There
are also
group
rates
available
for the
School
Summit.
Visit
www.kevinssong.org.
for more
information
about
registration,
scholarships
or a
complete
roster
of
conference
events
and
speakers.
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