Women Veterans Conference
2023-03-24 - 2023-03-26
March is Women Veterans Month
Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of PA is proud to sponsor the Women Veterans ConferenceMarch 24–26, 2023Pittsburgh, PAPittsburgh Marriott North, 100 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry Township, PA 16066
Agenda Includes: Veterans Benefits and how to access proper health care and benefits for women; presentations by several women veterans’ advocacy groups; leadership seminars; a motivational speaker; networking and camaraderie and much more All women veterans in Pennsylvania are welcome to attend. You do not need to be a member of the VFW in order to attend.
Please join us for a weekend of fellowship, camaraderie, and informational workshops by, for, and about women veterans—and the issues that matter and impact them directly. Preregistration is required; please see the VFW Dept. of PA Website for forms and the tentative agenda, or contact Amy MacKenzie (info below).Final Registration 01/31/2023 (or until sold out)www.vfwpa.org (under the “resources” tab)
This event is organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Pennsylvania, with financial contributions from Districts, Posts, Auxiliaries, & Individuals.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of PA Women Veterans ChairpersonAmy MacKenzie717.575.3982 quartermaster@ephratavfw.org

Motivating Veterans to Engage in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
2023-03-28 12:30 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Motivating Veterans to Engage in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Tuesday, March 28th, 2023
9:30AM PST – 10:30AM MT – 12:30PM EST
Location:
Virtual Presentation
Presented By:
Alice Maynor, LCSW
Description:
Veterans are a unique population to treat for substance use and mental illness due to their background in the military. After ears of having strict structure, highly stressful career expectations, and rigorous back to back training, Veterans re-entering the civilian world can be a difficult challenge to overcome for most. Because of this, Veterans struggling with substance use disorder and PTSD often enter treatment extremely guarded and/or resistant to treatment, which can lead to them leaving treatment early. Substance abuse and PTSD are complex issues that require consistent care and commitment to healing for any population, but for Veterans, it’s important to understand the barriers that they face on a daily basis and how to help them overcome them.
Register online.

Working With Military Families & Their Unique Behavioral Health Needs
2023-04-13 09:00 - 11:00
This presentation will identify the unique behavioral health needs for military families. It will also provide techniques and interventions for the most effective ways to work with military families and how to support building resiliency.
Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM MDT – Online
Register online

Improving Access to High-Quality Mental Health Care for Veterans
2023-04-20 08:00 - 2023-04-21 17:00
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will hold a 1.5 day hybrid (virtual and in-person) public workshop on Improving Access to High-Quality Mental Health Care for Veterans on April 21 and April 22, 2023 to explore the current landscape for mental health care services in the United States, including the use of telehealth services. The workshop will consider ways to improve veterans’ timely access to high-quality care for mental health conditions. In particular, the workshop will consider internal and external best practices for three critical needs for mental health access (known as tripartite access in the VA): urgent/crisis access, engagement access, and sustained access.
Learn more and register online.

Building a Bridge to Veterans: Trust Centered Programs, Mental Health & Moral Injury
2023-04-26 12:00 - 14:00
Building a Bridge to Veterans: Trust Centered Programs, Mental Health & Moral Injury
Wednesday April 26th, 2023
12:00-2:00PM EST
(11am CST • 10am MT • 9am PST)
Location:
Virtual Presentation
Presented By:
Alia Schenck MA, MSW, LCSW-A
Description:
A look at service delivery, important principles of relational building and cultural awareness for Veterans and family members. This class wIll seek to discuss supporting veterans that have unique challenges including Traumatic Brain Injuries IBIs), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), Moral Injury, and combat post-traumatic stress. Finally, we will discuss lessons learned from establishing rapport with trust-centered programs and conducting self-assessment among providers.
Register online.

Delivering Hope Through Building Connections
2023-05-02 08:30 - 15:30
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
8:30 am – 3:30 pm EST
Location:
Soldiers & Sailors, Third Floor Ballroom
4141 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
Presented By:
Melissa Jenkins-Fernández, Psy.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & USAF Veteran
Catherine Markosky, CEO & Founder, STAT, Inc.
Emily Benjamin, MS, Residential Addiction Counselor, St. Joseph Institute
Making personal connections is key to good mental health. Summit BHC Tactical Recovery Team, Mountain Laurel Recovery Center, and St. Joseph Institute for Addiction are teaming up to bring together Mental Health Professionals who serve our military, Veteran and First Responder Communities for this all-day seminar.

Sleeping Our Way to Preventing Suicide
2023-05-31 17:30 - 20:00
AFSP Western PA Research Connection Event with Tina R. Goldstein, Ph.D. and Peter Franzen, Ph.D.

Join us for our Sleeping Our Way to Preventing Suicide: How sleep impacts suicide risk…and what we can do about it research connection event with Dr. Tina Goldstein and Dr. Peter Franzen.
Hear firsthand what researchers are exploring in the world of suicide prevention. This event will feature a presentation followed by a Q&A based conversation, bringing your community together with leaders in the field of suicide prevention research. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served.
The more we understand about suicide, the more we can prevent it. AFSP-funded research is essential to our mission of saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. Our research funding goes toward studies from neurobiological, psychosocial, and genetic perspectives, as well as topics including clinical treatment, community intervention, and survivors of suicide loss. Our grants help sponsor young investigators, engage senior researchers in suicide prevention, and foster new ideas from suicide researchers at all levels to build a scientific community.

We believe it is important to share our findings to increase public knowledge and awareness. Join us for an AFSP Research Connection Program, where you will have the opportunity to engage in a conversation with a researcher about their work and about suicide prevention.

Learn more at afsp.org/research.

Date: May 31, 2023

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Thomas E. Startzl Biomedical Science Tower, Room S100
200 Darragh St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Contact Information: Jesse Putkoski, jputkoski@afsp.org

The Landscape of LGBTQ+ Affirming Healthcare in Erie: A Panel Discussion
2023-06-14 11:30 - 13:00
The Landscape of LGBTQ+ Affirming Healthcare in Erie: A Panel Discussion
June 14, 2023 11:30 AM – 1 PM

Blasco Library: 160 E Front St, Erie, PA 16507
Contact us at (814) 454-0843 or sfrigon@eriecommunityfoundation.org
Register online

This is a free event provided by UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor, The LGBT Funds of The Erie Community Foundation, Mercyhurst University and The Hamot Health Foundation.

Historically, the LGBTQ+ community has faced barriers to accessing quality healthcare due to discrimination, stigma, and lack of knowledgeable and welcoming providers. Additionally, many LGBTQ+ people face challenges that increase health risks and can lead to negative health outcomes. Combined, this creates health disparities for LGBTQ+ individuals compared to their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. This is a concern across countless communities, including here in Erie.
LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare ensures that all individuals have access to high-quality healthcare services, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is important for healthcare and social service providers to understand the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. It is equally important for facilities to provide a welcoming, inclusive, and competent environment.
Our panel will discuss the current healthcare landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals in our area and what resources are available.

Learning Objectives for CME/SW/LPC/LMFT Credits:

Identify three core principles of LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare
Review at least five health risks potentially faced by individuals in the LGBTQ+ community
Name at least three barriers to care that may impact LGBTQ+ individuals
Describe the current healthcare landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals in our region, including in primary care, mental health, and substance use settings.
Set an actionable goal to improve LGBTQ+ health for our region.

ACCREDITATION
In support of improving patient care the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPA), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the health care team.
Physician (CME)
The University of Pittsburgh designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Social Work (CEU)
Mercyhurst University’s Department of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and is an approved provider of social work, Marriage & Family Therapist and Professional Counselor continuing education by the Pennsylvania State Licensing Board. 1.0 hours of CEUs offered to all attendees.
For CEUs in LSW/LCSW/LMFT/LPC, requirements include attendance for the entire session as verified by Teams attendance records (or sign-in/sign-out sheets for in-person) and completion of a course evaluation that will be provided at the end of the session.
For AMA CME/CNE credit, a code will be provided with further instructions.

A Conversation About Mental Health in the Black Community
2023-07-27 14:00 - 15:00
Please join the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at 2pm ET on Thursday, July 27, for their upcoming panel, “A Conversation About Mental Health in the Black Community,” at facebook.com/afspnational.

In advance of the launch of AFSP’s new, upcoming suicide prevention education program focused on the Black and African American community, this event will bring together the following panelists for a discussion of mental health and suicide prevention:

Victor Armstrong, MSW (Director, Soul Shop for Black Churches) will moderate this conversation on the impacts of mental health in the community, and strategies to save lives
Doug Middleton (NFL veteran safety and mental health advocate; Dream Yoga owner/founder) on healing from the loss of a friend to suicide
Arielle H. Sheftall, Ph.D. (Youth Suicide Researcher; Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Rochester Medical Center) on the scope of suicide among the Black and African American population and prevention strategies
Sherry Molock Ph.D., M.Div. (Associate Professor of Psychology, The George Washington University; and Pastor, Beloved Community Church, Cincinnati, Ohio) on how mental health can be supported through the faith community
Keon Lewis, MHSA (Lifetime Member, Pi Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; and Board Chair, AFSP North Carolina Chapter) on how awareness, understanding and support can be engaged through chapter networks and other community engagement

We hope you’ll join us for this important and impactful conversation.

Suicide Prevention Alliance 2023 Annual Conference
2023-08-08 08:00 - 2023-08-09 17:00
The 2023 Suicide Prevention Alliance Conference is designed to meet the diverse interests and needs of attendees (mental health professionals, those impacted by suicide (Attempt/Loss Survivors), teachers, LGTBQIA+, Veterans, etc., while creating a powerful opportunity for networking and learning, and developing powerful techniques to prevent suicide in the community.
Join Suicide Prevention Alliance as we welcome Congresswoman Susan Wild and Dr. David A. Jobes as our Keynote Speakers for our inaugural conference.
Dates and Location:
August 8th and 9th
Best Western Premier, Harrisburg, PA
Learn more, register on the conference website.

Viewing and Panel Discussion of My Ascension
2023-09-19 17:00 - 19:30
Join us for a viewing of My Ascension followed by a panel discussion.
At 16 years old Emma Benoit attempted to end her life. Through navigating the challenges of recovery, she discovers purpose and passion in helping other struggling teens. My Ascension is the story of the day that changed Emma’s life, and everything that’s happened since.
When: September 19, 2022 at 5:00pm
Where: Succop Theater
Butler County Community College
107 College Dr, Butler, PA 16002
Presented by the Butler County Suicide Coalition, Butler VA Health Systems, Clearfield-Jefferson Suicide Prevention Team, and BC3
No reservations necessary! Representatives from the NW PA Veteran Suicide Prevention Program will have an informational table at this event. Please stop by and say hello!

2023 VISN 4 Community Mental Health Summit - Outside The Box
2023-09-22 09:00 - 16:00
VISN 4 Community Mental Health Summit Outside the Box-Alternative Treatment Methods
Hosted by Local Recovery Coordinators – Coatesville, Lebanon, Wilmington and Butler VA
Friday, September 22 · 9am – 4pm EDT, online

Agenda Includes: MDMA assisted therapy, rTMS, Ketamine treatment, Peer perspective of VA MH care, CBT-Psychosis and more
* Registration will be open until 9/15/23 @4pm and there is a maximum capacity of 360 attendees for this event.

Erie County Suicide Prevention Conference 2023
2023-09-27 08:00 - 17:00
Erie County Suicide Prevention Conference 2023
Date and time: Wednesday, September 27 · 8am – 4:45pm EDT

Location: Ambassador Hotel and Conference Center, 7794 Peach St Erie, PA 16509
Register online.

About this event

“A Public Health Approach to Suicide Prevention: Recognizing and Supporting All Areas of Our Lives (based on the CDC’s Seven Suicide Prevention Strategies).”
Our Keynote Speaker, Matt Dorgan, was born and raised in York, Pennsylvania. It was after the loss of his daughter Brianna to suicide, December 3, 2020 that Matt decided that things need to change. Matt wanted to channel his grief into something positive for the community so others would not have to suffer the way Brianna suffered and so other parents would not have to suffer the grief of having to bury a child. In January 2021, Matt started putting together an awareness and fundraising event called Building Bridges for Brianna. After several weeks Matt decided we need to build the bridge between people that need help and people that can provide help. That was when Matt realized that this cannot be an event, it needs to be a movement and expanded the organization to reach as many people as he can.
Other speakers represent various agencies and resources within the Erie community and serve to build a foundation for support, intervention and suicide prevention in our own community.
Program Schedule:
Registration/Check-In : 8:00am-8:45amWelcome, Introductions & Keynote: 8:45am -10:15amBREAK: 10:15am-10:30am
Breakout Session 1 (will be selected on day of conference):11:00am – 12:00 pm
OPTION 1A : “988 and Collaboration with Law Enforcement in Erie County” :Stacey Buettner & Tracy Carlini
OPTION 1B : “Harm Reduction”: Cortney Elliot, Sarah Suhan, and Shannon Brown
OPTION 1C: “Heroes Need Help Too”: Robin Archer and Pensiri Nuk Kongkaw-Oden
LUNCH BUFFET (INC. WITH REGISTRATION):11:45am -12:45pmSurvivor Panel Discussion: 12:45pm -1:45pmBREAK: 1:45pm – 2:00pm
Breakout 2: 2:00pm – 3:15pm
OPTION 2a – “Suicide in a Chaotic World” – Govan MartinOPTION 2b – “We are Human, Not Broken”- Kevin Berceli, LPC, NCC, CPH, CP-TRE, CP-NLPOPTION 2c – “Parenting Skills to Improve Family Relations” – NAMIBREAK: 3:15pm – 3:30pm
Breakout Session 3: 3:30pm – 4:45pm
OPTION 3a – “Examining the Connections Between Substance Use and Risk Behaviors and Suicidal Ideations / Actions” – Dr. Amy Gallaher-Miles, DO, IBCLCOPTION 3b – “Assessing Suicidality/High Risk Among the Perinatal Population” – Diomarys Nunez, LPC
Continuing Education Information
Certificates will be sent out via email – Total CE 5 hours
Contact Zachary Cathcart at cathcartz@upmc.edu with questions about continuing education information for this event.
CEUs will be available for LSW/LCSW/LMFT, ACT 48, ANCC/AMA, EMS
Scholarship Information:Please note there are a limited number of scholarships available, made possible by a generous donation from Erie County Department of Health and Human Services. Anyone with financial need is encouraged to attend. Interested individuals may reach out to Sharon Sandberg at sandbergs@upmc.edu or 814-835-2953.
We strongly encourage anyone interested in a scholarship to apply by preparing a one page essay detailing why it is important for you to attend this conference and the importance of community suicide prevention. Essays can be emailed directly to Sharon Sandberg at sandbergs@upmc.edu.

ACORN: An Overview of a VHA Social Risk Screening and Social Needs Referral Initiative
2024-01-10 12:00 - 13:00
Focus on Health Equity and Action Cyberseminar Series
Upcoming Session:
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
12PM – 1PM (ET)
Learn More About the Session
Register
Title: Assessing Circumstances and Offering Resources for Needs (ACORN): An Overview of a VHA Social Risk Screening and Social Needs Referral Initiative
Description:
Hospitals and health systems, including the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), are increasingly working to identify patients’ social risks and address social needs as part of clinical care. Assessing Circumstances and Offering Resources for Needs (ACORN) is a VHA social risk screening and referral program that aims to identify and address unmet social needs among all Veterans to improve health outcomes and advance health equity. This session will provide an overview of ACORN, including background on the development of the initiative, information about the ACORN Dashboard, and research and clinical implications.
Presenters:
Alicia Cohen, MD, MSc (she | hers)

Core Investigator, VA HSR&D Center of Innovation in Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS-COIN)
Primary Care Physician, Women’s Health Clinic and Homeless Clinic, VA Providence Healthcare System
Co-lead, VHA Assessing Circumstances and Offering Resources for Needs (ACORN) Initiative
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University Medical School and School of Public Health

Sarah Leder, MSW (she | hers)

Health Systems Specialist, Office of Health Equity
Specialist, VHA Assessing Circumstances and Offering Resources for Needs (ACORN) Dashboard, Data, and Evaluation Team
Lauren Russell, MPH, MPP (she | hers)
Social Determinants of Health Lead and Health System Specialist, VHA Office of Health Equity
Co-lead, VHA Assessing Circumstances and Offering Resources for Needs (ACORN) Initiative

Intended audience:
Researchers, clinicians, care coordinators, policy makers, educators, data analysts, Veteran stakeholders and representatives of vulnerable Veteran groups who are interested in understanding and/or promoting equitable health among all Veterans.

Past Sessions
Use the following links, or continue reading on this page, for information on:

About the Focus on Health Equity and Action Cyberseminars
The VHA Office of Health Equity (OHE) in partnership with the VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) launched the Focus on Health Equity and Action Cyberseminars. Each cyberseminar spotlights activities that promote the implementation of the VHA Health Equity Action Plan (HEAP), and aims to:

Catalyze, synergize, and coordinate VHA programs, projects, and initiatives to effectively identify, understand, seek and implement solutions to diminish and where possible eliminate health disparities;
Demonstrate alignment with other federal partners working to achieve health equity;
Bring focus to VHA efforts to provide a more equitable, individualized and patient-driven health care delivery system;
Improve overall quality of care through equity in all policies and the achievement of health equity for all;
Incorporate the innovative ideas and input of all users in order to encourage a bottom up approach while maintaining a strong connection to the overarching goals of the VA;
Capitalize on the existing network of advocates and programs in both administrative and clinical realms to weave health equity dialogue and cultural attunement into training and other activities within and outside the health care system; and
Serve as a guide and/or starting place that would remain a living document which is open to modification and adaptation to continuously meet the needs of the Veterans entrusted to the VHA.

Supporting Evidence-Based Practice Implementation In Settings Serving Veterans Who Have Experienced Homelessness
2024-01-17 13:00 - 14:00
Wednesday, January 17, 2024: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Presented by VA’s Homeless Programs Office, National Center on Homelessness among Veterans, in collaboration with VHA’s Institute for Learning, Education and Development (ILEAD)
Audience: Participants may include but are not limited to physicians, nurses, dentists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, case managers, housing specialists, peer specialists, occupational therapy practitioners, team leaders, supervisors, Network Homeless Coordinators, staff working in VA’s homeless programs and all professionals supporting Veterans experiencing housing insecurity.
Modality: Virtual conference (webinar)
Credit/hours: 1
Accreditations: ACCME, ACCME-NP, ANCC, APA, ASWB, NBCC, ADA, NYSED, SW, AOTA, CRCC
Overview:
The purpose of this live, virtual, knowledge-based session is to describe strategies that support the implementation of evidence-based practices in settings serving homeless Veterans, using the case example of a national initiative to implement Critical Time Intervention (CTI) in 32 VA Grant and Per Diem (GPD) case management sites. This project was funded by the VA Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI).
Ending Veteran homelessness is an urgent national priority. By investing in robust health and housing services for homeless-experienced Veterans (HEVs), the VA has made tremendous strides in addressing Veteran homelessness. Veterans who remain homeless despite these services are extraordinarily vulnerable; at present, 41% of HEVs are unsheltered, living on the streets, in abandoned buildings, or other places not intended for human habitation. To further VA’s goal of ending Veteran homelessness, there is a pressing need to identify effective practices that support the scale up, spread, and sustainment of evidence-based practices (EBPs) across the broad range of VA services and community-based organizations that serve HEVs.
One such service is VA’s GPD program, which is considered a cornerstone of VA’s strategic plan to end Veteran homelessness. Operated by VA’s community partners, this program provides long-term (up to 24 months) transitional housing and supportive services for HEVs. Many HEVs transition from GPD sites into independent housing, but GPD case management ceases at the transition out of GPD sites, leaving many HEVs without support. Several years ago, Congress required VA to address this quality gap; in March 2019, VA awarded $30 million to 128 GPD sites to provide 6 months of case management (known as the GPD case management program) for HEVs transitioning to independent living and not otherwise receiving case management.
At present, no specific case management paradigm is required in the GPD case management program, resulting in significant practice variation across sites. If implemented nationally, Critical Time Intervention—an evidence-based, structured, and time-limited case management model—would standardize and improve case management delivered in the GPD case management program. However, very few GPD case management staff have prior experience delivering EBPs or engaging in agency wide EBP implementation. Partnered with the GPD National Program Office, our team is implementing Critical Time Intervention in 32 GPD case management sites, supported by a robust training and technical assistance program. Half of these sites also receive “coaching,” or tailored support for providers and leaders in their efforts to adopt and incorporate EBPs into their routine care processes.
This session will share our experiences with implementing Critical Time Intervention, as a case example that describes potential supports for EBP implementation in settings that serve HEVs. We will highlight lessons learned from this implementation initiative and engage with the audience to discuss ways to support the implementation of other EBPs in VA and community-partnered contexts that work with HEVs.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this educational program, learners will be able to:

Describe challenges to evidence-based practice implementation in settings serving homeless Veterans.
Identify strategies used to support the implementation of Critical Time Intervention in VA Grant and Per Diem case management programs.
Apply lessons learned from the implementation of Critical Time Intervention to bolster other evidence-based practice implementation efforts in VA homeless programs.

Registration: To receive credit for attending, VA employees need to register in TMS before the training begins:
To find a course when logging into TMS:
Go to Learning, scroll down to My Learning, type in Course # and Title
VA 131011449 Supporting Evidence-Based Practice Implementation In Settings Serving Veterans Who Have Experienced Homelessness
Be sure to click Register Now rather than Assign to Me or Start Course
If you are external to the VA or Non VA staff you must have a registered TRAIN account AND register for this training in TRAIN PRIOR to commencing training, failure to do so will result in CEUs not being awarded.
If you do not have a TRAIN account please click the link: https://vha.train.org.
VA staff register here
Non-VA staff Register here
*Note The Non-VA staff registration link is currently unavailable. Non-VA staff will be able to register when the TRAIN registration link is active.
For questions with TMS and TRAIN registration, please contact clarice.lewis@va.gov or lee.furry@va.gov
For audio, please use computer and connect audio through the TEAMS speakers.
For more information on education opportunities, please email Derrick Crowley, Management Analyst, Derrick.crowley@va.gov
The National Center on Homelessness among Veterans promotes the development of policy and practice that targets ending and preventing Veteran homelessness through supporting the implementation of relevant research findings into clinical practice, providing education and training for VA and community partners, disseminating evidence-based and emerging best practices and developing new empirical knowledge.
To learn more, visit: http://www.va.gov/homeless/nchav/

Mental Health America of Southwestern PA's Virtual Annual Conference
2024-01-26 08:30 - 15:30
Mental Health America of Southwestern PA’s (MHA-SWPA) Virtual Annual Conference is quickly approaching!
Our virtual conference this year is entitled Perspectives: Cultivating a Lifetime of Mental Wellness, and will address current issues across the lifespan, concerning both adult and youth populations. Register online.
Through the annual conference, MHA-SWPA continues to provide opportunities for professional growth, with expert speakers on compelling topics regarding behavioral health and wellness. Our target audience is Mental Health Professionals, Counselors, Social Workers, LPCs, Nurses, Peer Specialists, Certified Recovery Specialists and Community Members.
Cost to attend is $39.00 if registering by December 15th, but if you work at an MHA, you may register at half that cost by using the Promo Code MHACONF50.
Student discounts are available, as are scholarships for those with lived experience. Email conference@mhaswpa.org for details.
Through the generous support of our sponsors, MHA-SWPA continues to provide opportunities for professional growth, with expert speakers on compelling topics regarding behavioral health and wellness.
Check out the registration booklet to choose your workshops, then register below, indicating professional license type if applicable.
A special note of thanks to Premier Co-Sponsors UPMC Health Plan and UPMC | Community Care Behavioral Health Organization for providing their generous support in a variety of ways including hosting the conference platform.

Advancing the Science on Peer Support and Suicide Prevention
2024-02-08 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-02-12 11:00 - 15:30
Advancing the Science on Peer Support and Suicide Prevention 2-Day Workshop

This virtual workshop is hosted by the National Institute of Mental Health on Thursday, February 8th and Monday, February 12th.
Peer support services specifically intended to contribute to suicide risk reduction are becoming more prominent in healthcare systems and community settings. Such services can be used to address barriers for receiving proven interventions, while also improving hope, connection, recovery, and empowerment. Despite emerging research on the effectiveness and implementation of these models, there are research gaps that could lead to missed opportunities in optimizing them. This NIMH-sponsored workshop will bring together experts in peer support suicide prevention to discuss relevant conceptual frameworks, recent advances in understanding what works and for whom, service settings and service-user characteristics that inform intervention strategies across the crisis services continuum, digital and tele-health applications, considerations for youth, and equity considerations. The workshop will identify innovative advancements and areas that need additional research as the field moves forward.

About this event

This is a virtual event. A zoom link will be sent to you prior to the event date. There is no cost to attend and CEUs are not provided.
See the full schedule and register online.

DoD Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Summit
2024-04-05 10:00 - 14:00
Friday, April 5 · 10am – 2pm EDT

DoD Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Summit
Join us for the DoD Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Summit at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, PA, USA. This in-person event (no fee) aims to raise awareness and prevent sexual assault within the military & civilian community for SAAPM. Together, we’ll hear from a military survivor, learn from panel discussions from professionals in the community, and share resources. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with experts, survivors, and advocates in the field. Let’s work towards a future free from sexual assault in our armed forces.
This event is open to all – civilian, military members, and military spouses.

Register to attend

Suicide Prevention Symposium
2024-04-10 08:30 - 17:00
Wednesday, April 10 2024 8:30 AM — 5:00 PM EST
Tickets available online

The program will run from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm and will include lunch. Registration will open at 8:00 am. All events will be held in the Brent Auditorium in Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust St, Philadelphia.
SCHEDULE
8:30 – 12:00 Understanding Ethical, Medico-Legal, and Treatment Issues in Individuals At-Risk of Suicide
12:00 – 12:45 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 Secure Firearms Storage and Suicide Prevention
2:40 – 4:45 Safety-A Planning
Understanding Ethical, Medico-Legal, and Treatment Issues in Individuals At-Risk of Suicide, Dr. Lanny Berman
This workshop offers a deep dive into clinical standards of care for patients at risk of suicide. Evidence-based challenges to long-held (and misconceived) practices in assessing suicide risk will be offered; corrective strategies will be presented and linked to risk-based treatment planning. Medico-legal issues pertinent to the assessment and treatment of suicidal patients and based on malpractice cases will be discussed. In addition, ethical issues that arise in assessing and treating patients at risk, such as recognizing acute risk in patients who deny suicide ideation, dealing with non-adherence, decisions to hospitalize, confidentiality, split treatment, tel-mental health care, and standards of competence. Strategies to minimize potential complaints and the importance of documentation will be discussed.
Dr. Berman holds degrees from the Johns Hopkins University and the Catholic University of America. With over 50 years of experience, he has held significant roles in academia and suicide prevention organizations, authored or edited 9 books and more than 175 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on suicide and suicide prevention. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, while also contributing to suicide prevention projects internationally and offering expert testimony in legal cases involving individuals who have died by suicide.
Secure Firearms Storage and Suicide Prevention, Dr. Mike Anestis
In this presentation, Dr. Anestis will discuss how secure firearm storage could help reduce the national suicide rate. Additionally, he will discuss the roles that different members of the community, not only clinicians, can play in promoting shifts in social norms around secure firearm storage. This presentation is non-partisan and focuses on methods for empowering firearm owners to increase their own safety and that of their loved ones.
Dr. Anestis is a clinical psychologist, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, and an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at Rutgers. His research focuses primarily on suicide prevention, with a particular emphasis on the role of firearms in both military and civilian populations. He is the author of over 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles and a book, entitled Guns and Suicide: An American Epidemic. He has been a named investigator in over $20 million in externally funded research projects, including serving as the PI on the initial trial of Project Safe Guard, a form of lethal means counseling. In 2018, Dr. Anestis received the Edwin Shneidman Award for early career achievement in suicide research.
Overview of SAFETY-A, Dr. Lucas Zullo
SAFETY-A (previously referred to as the Family Intervention for Suicide Prevention/FISP) is an evidence-based therapeutic assessment for youth suicide prevention. It is designed to gather information on the current level of suicide risk as well as provide a brief therapeutic intervention to mitigate this risk and establish safety. SAFETY-A is a family-focused intervention, with components to be used with the youth alone, caregiver alone, and family together. An overview of SAFETY-A will be provided along with video examples demonstrating the delivery of the intervention.
Dr. Zullo is an Assistant Professor at Thomas Jefferson University and the Clinical and Fellowship Director of the David Farber ASPIRE Center. Dr. Zullo has a passion for community-partnered, equity-driven care and is committed to making high-quality, evidence-based services available to all families seeking care at the ASPIRE Center. Dr. Zullo is one of the founders and co-leaders of the Trauma-Informed Suicide Prevention and Postvention Community of Practice within the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and his research focuses on quality improvement of clinical services, with an emphasis on care for LGBTQ+ youth at risk for suicide.
CEU, APA, and LSW/LCSW/LPC/LMFT credits offered from Drexel University. CE Statements below:
APA (Psychologists) Drexel University College of Medicine, Behavioral Healthcare Education is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Drexel University College of Medicine, Behavioral Healthcare Education maintains responsibility for the program and its content. This program is being offered for up to 7 hours of continuing education.
LSW/LCSW/LPC/LMFT (PA SBSWE Licensed Social Workers in Pennsylvania) Drexel University College of Medicine is a preapproved provider of continuing education for Social Workers and Clinical Social Workers. This program is being offered for up to 7 hours of continuing education.

Nurturing Hope: Supporting Loved Ones Who Have Passive Suicidal Thoughts
2024-09-10 19:00 - 20:00
Nurturing Hope: Supporting Loved Ones Who Have Passive Suicidal Thoughts, sponsored by Families for Depression Awareness.
Airing Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm ET
Learn more online
Watch live on Facebook or YouTube
Dealing with chronic passive suicidal thoughts can feel like being stuck in a dark tunnel with no end in sight, both for the individual going through them and for their caregivers. It’s an experience that can feel isolating and overwhelming, but it’s not something you have to face alone.
Join us for “Nurturing Hope: Supporting Loved Ones Who Have Passive Suicidal Thoughts”, a livestream panel discussion that aims to illuminate the difficult nature of passive suicidality. We’ll explore ways to navigate these delicate situations, offering resources and strategies for caregivers. Together, we can foster open conversations, encourage understanding, and provide crucial support for our loved ones.

Presenters

Kiara Alvarez, PhD

Kiara Alvarez, PhD is a Bloomberg Assistant Professor of American Health in the Department of Health, Behavior, and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is a licensed psychologist and holds a joint appointment at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Her research focuses on youth mental health equity, suicide prevention, and the well-being of Latinx and immigrant youth, including family-centered approaches to integrating mental health into primary care and community settings. She is on the Board of Directors for the Society for Prevention Research and steering committee for the Youth Suicide Research Consortium.

Johanna Louie, LCSW

Johanna Louie is a licensed clinical social worker passionate about caring for caregivers. In 10+ years of working in suicide prevention, she has served in roles like crisis line manager and psychotherapist, as well as directed clinical training programs. In 2018, she co-founded Suicide Is Different (SID) with Daniela Zanich. To this day, SID continues to provide support services for both professional and family caregivers caring for someone thinking about suicide. Johanna holds Master’s Degrees in Social Work from Columbia University and Human Behavior from the University of Southern California.

Imadé Nibokun

Imadé (ee-MAH-day) is a writer, mental health advocate, and founder of Depressed While Black®. She is a suicide attempt survivor who lives with clinical depression and borderline personality disorder. Imadé first developed Depressed While Black as her 2015 Columbia University Non-Fiction Creative Writing MFA thesis. Depressed While Black has grown into an online community and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that donates Black-affirming personal care items to psychiatric patients and connects people to Black therapists.

Lisa Mecham, MSW, Moderator

Lisa Mecham, MSW, is a writer and freelance editor based in California. Her work has been featured in The New York Times: Tiny Modern Love and Roxane Gay’s bestselling anthology Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture. Lisa’s writing about redefining her family and staying legally married to her husband, despite their separation, has been published in The On Being Project and HuffPost. Lisa’s interests center around resiliency, agency, and hope, with a particular focus on empowering women. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Cognitive Behavioral Nightmare Therapies and PTSD
2024-09-18 14:00 - 15:00
Wednesday, September 18 at 2:00pm ET
The prevalence of nightmare disorder in the general population is 5%. Nightmares are typically characterized as idiopathic (i.e., from an unknown cause) or trauma-related (i.e., beginning or changing in frequency, severity, or content after a traumatic event). Nightmares are reported by 30% of trauma-exposed civilians, 50% of trauma-exposed veterans, and 30-40% of active duty military personnel and members of the National Guard. Among individuals diagnosed with PTSD, nightmare rates are higher and are reported by 57% of civilians with PTSD and 50-70% of active duty service members with PTSD. A variety of cognitive behavioral interventions show promise for the treatment of nightmares and also improve insomnia, PTSD, and depression. There is a wide range of names for the various treatments tested in randomized controlled trials, which creates challenges in comparing treatment efficacy by protocol in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Furthermore, there are not enough providers trained in CBT-N. This presentation will bridge the gap by summarizing data regarding the definition and prevalence of nightmares, providing an overview of CBT-N protocols, describing research of the efficacy of CBT-N in PTSD, and describing a newly developed, DoD funded, web-based provider training for CBT-N.
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Register online

About the Presenter

KRISTI PRUIKSMA, PhD, DBSM is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The University
of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and a Diplomat for Behavioral Sleep Medicine. Her work focuses on clinical research and supporting dissemination of evidence-based treatments for sleep disorders and PTSD with a focus on active duty military personnel in affiliation with the STRONG STAR Consortium. She has published more than 50 empirically- reviewed articles and is currently the PI of a DoD funded project to build and test a web-based provider training for CBT for nightmares and a DoD funded project comparing CBT-I and BBT-I in active duty service members with postconcussive symptoms following Mild TBI.
