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From Personal Stories to Policy Strategies:

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

 

Wednesday, June 24 from 2:00 - 3:30 PM ET

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Listen to dynamic panels and watch clips from the award-winning documentary,

Scattering CJ 

HONORARY CONGRESSIONAL CO-HOSTS

Rep. Don Beyer (VA)

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL)

Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA)

Rep. Judy Chu (CA)

Rep. Steve Cohen (TN)

Rep. Ted Deutch (FL)

Sen. Cory Gardner (CO)

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH)

Rep. Ben McAdams (UT)

Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY)

Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD)

Rep. Greg Steube (FL)

Rep. Chris Stewart (UT)

Rep. David Trone (MD)

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ)

Rep. Susan Wild (PA)

Presented by the National Council for Behavioral Health, American Association of Suicidology and Spark Media as part of the National Council’s Hill Day At Home digital advocacy initiative.

 

The award-winning film Scattering CJ tells the moving story of one family’s loss to suicide and the thousands of people who responded in their time of need. This live-streamed interactive event will feature key scenes from the film, recorded remarks from Members of Congress and discussions with mental health experts, suicide prevention advocates and loss survivors on innovative policy approaches to mental health concerns, suicide prevention, as well as support for the millions of Americans left behind by suicide.

PANELS

PANEL 1: PERSONAL STORIES

Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, clinical psychologist and mental health advocate, moderates a conversation with suicide loss survivors and advocates about removing the social stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide, the grieving process, how to better support families who have loved ones with mental illness, and using the power of personal narrative to build empathy and understanding. 

MODERATOR

Sally Spencer-Thomas

PANELISTS

Donna Holland Barnes, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Howard University

Frank Campbell, PhD

Chair

National Suicidology Training Center

Hallie Twomey

CJ's Mother

John Twomey

CJ's Father

Antigone Davis

Director & Global Head of Safety

Facebook

Andrea Kalin

Director, Producer, and Writer

Scattering CJ

PANEL 2: POLICY STRATEGIES

Jason Cherkis, award-winning reporter on mental health and substance use disorder, moderates a discussion with mental health experts and policy leaders on current legislative initiatives, policy strategies and national programs to improve mental health, prevent suicide and address mental health disparities.

MODERATOR

Jason Cherkis

PANELISTS

John Draper, PhD

Executive Vice President

National Networks

Doree Ann V. Espiritu, MD

Henry Ford Health System

Keita Franklin, PhD

Chief Clinical Officer

Psych Hub

Jerry Reed, PhD

Senior VP for Practice Leadership

Education Development Center, Inc.

Rheeda Walker, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Professor of Psychology

University of Houston

ABOUT

The National Council for Behavioral Health is the unifying voice of America’s health care organizations that deliver mental health and addictions treatment and services. Together with our 3,326 member organizations serving over 10 million adults, children and families living with mental illnesses and addictions, the National Council is committed to all Americans having access to comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for recovery. The National Council introduced Mental Health First Aid USA and more than 2 million Americans have been trained.

 

The American Association of Suicidology is the nation's largest suicide prevention membership organization. Its membership includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center volunteers, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of lay persons who have in interest in suicide prevention.

 

Spark Media is a production company dedicated to crafting stories with a strong social conscience. It’s latest film, the award-winning Scattering CJ, finds hope in the darkest of places, exploring the extraordinary generosity of strangers and one family’s attempt to find peace.  

If you know someone in a crisis and in need of support, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)

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