Surviving Suicide
Stories from survivors and those surviving the loss from suicide
Suicide Awareness & Prevention Symposium
Please Join Suncoast Mental Health Center on September 20th, 2023, 8:30-11:30am.
Providing Suicide Prevention Education and Awareness.
Offering CEU Certificates for industry professionals.
You are invited to attend our annual symposium on Suicide Awareness and Prevention. This year, we will feature stories from survivors and stories of people surviving the loss of a loved one. Join us as we focus on understanding grief, supporting friends or family members struggling with suicidal thoughts, initiating difficult conversations about suicide, and exploring ways to raise awareness in our community to prevent further loss of lives. Your presence and participation are vital to fostering a compassionate and informed community, and we look forward to engaging with you on September 20.
Our event program will feature keynote speakers Andy McNeil (trainer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and co-author of “Understanding and Supporting Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals”) and Leah Suarez (CEO of Our Village Okeechobee) followed by a panel discussion with mental health professionals, advocates, and those with lived experiences. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, share personal stories, and gain practical skills and insight for supporting those in crisis. We hope you will join us in creating a supportive environment where fearless conversations about mental health are encouraged and stigma no longer exists. Together, we can make a significant impact and change the narrative on suicide so that no one feels alone in their struggles.
Use the below link to register or email krogers@smhcinc.org.
Registration is required to receive CEU credit.
Suicide Awareness and Prevention Symposium
September 20, 2024
8:30am-11:30am
Coral Shores Behavioral Health
5995 SE Community Drive
Stuart, FL 34997
Our Guest Speakers
Andy McNiel, MA, is a non-profit leader and the CEO of a national consulting company that provides education and consultation to non-profit organizations. He is a trainer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and lectures extensively on support group facilitation, grief and bereavement, leadership and non-profit management. Andy has held leadership roles in several organizations, including The National Alliance for Children's Grief and Hospice of Martin & St. Lucie, and serves as an advisor for the TAPS, HealGrief, and The Compassionate Friends programs. He co-authored a guide on supporting bereaved children and has many years of experience providing counseling and support groups for grieving youth and adults.
Andy McNiel, MA
"My Story Of Trauma
To Triumph"
Leah D. Suarez
MNM, CNP, CRPS, Trauma Thriver, and Chief Executive Officer at Our Village Okeechobee and Nuestro Pueblo
Leah Suarez has a master's degree in Nonprofit Management and 35 years of experience working with marginalized and migrant populations in South Central Florida. She founded Our Village Okeechobee in 2015 to improve the community through cross-sector relationships and volunteerism, expanding the agency to five distinct operations serving over 17,000 local residents. Leah's background includes roles at the Department of Children and Families, Suncoast Mental Health Center, and Florida Community Health Centers, where she established the Health Navigator Program and Medical Care Coordination. She also helped to develop the Children's Mental Health System of Care through a partnership with the Okeechobee County School District and the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network.
This is a free community event.
Register today by clicking the button or by emailing krogers@smhcinc.org.
Registration is required for CEU Credit.
Through the partnership of Suncoast Mental Health Center and Chef Threads Clothing, we are launching a community effort with our “You’re Not Alone” t-shirt campaign to show support for those who feel they are facing mental health challenges alone. Together we can ensure hope, healing and change by creating a brighter future where no one feels alone on their journey to mental wellness.