Annual Conference

The Suicide Prevention Coalition of LI organizes an annual educational conference on suicide-related topics.  For 2024 an in-person conference is planned for December. More information to come as planning proceeds.

In 2022 we held two virtual events due to the continuing uncertainty of the COVID pandemic. This year's series focused on "Exploring the Connection between violence toward Self and Others with a Focus on Youth".

The first event was held on November 18th from 10am-12noon. Our presenter was Dr. Amanda Nickerson, Ph.D., NCSP, Director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention and Professor of School Psychology at the Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo, SUNY.  Dr Nickerson presented a training session on "Violence Toward Self and OthersBest Practices for Assessing Risk and Promoting Safety for Youth".

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A half-day Symposium was held on 12/9/22. Our keynote speaker was Vera Feuer, MD, Director of Pediatric Emergency Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Urgent Care and Associate Vice President, School Mental Health for Northwell Health. Dr. Feuer gave a presentation on "Youth Violence and Suicide-What Can Communities Do About It?".


The program also included:

- a workshop by Meryl Cassidy, Executive Director of Response Crisis Center and Max Banilivy, PsyD, Director of Training for WellLife Network. Their presentation will be on "Viewing Risk of Harm to Self and Others on a Continuum: Recognizing, Responding, Assessing and Intervening"

- A workshop by representatives from Sandy Hook Promise and a LI school district representative focusing on that program in action in one district.

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The prior year's conference was held on 9/1/21. Meryl Cassidy, Executive Director of Response Crisis Center, opened the conference and welcomed the participants.

Our Keynote Speaker was Doreen Marshall, PhD, Vice President of Mission Engagement for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention,  Dr. Marshall's talk was entitled " Protecting our Mental Health and Suicide Prevention During CVID-19 Lessons Learned and Ways Forward". 

Doreen Marshall

Click here for a copy of the handout from Dr. Marshall's presentation: Dr Marshall's powerpoint handout

Dr Marshall, along with a panel consisting of Michael Hoffman, LCSW, Adrienne LoPresti of YES Community Counseling Center, Rachel Priest of Mental Health Association in Nassau Conty, and Linda Sherlock-Reich of EAC Network's Project Hope answered questions and responded to comments.

Our Featured Presentation was given by Garra Lloyd-Lester, Director, NYS Suicide Prevention Community and Coalition Initiatives for  the Suicide Prevention Center of NY.  Lloyd-Lester spoke about current suicide prevention initiatives in New York State. 

Garra Lloyd-lester

Here is a copy of the handout from his presentation: Garra Lloyd-Lester Presentation

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