program
8:00-9:00am Registration
9:00-9:15am Welcoming Remarks
Dr. Mari Fuentes-Martin, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Logistics and Conference Overview
Dr. Eugenia Curet, Director, UTB/TSC Student Health Services
Opening Plenary Session
9:15-10:00am What are Texas and the U.S. Doing to Prevent Youth Suicide?
Ms. Mary Ellen Nudd, MA, Vice President, Mental Health America of Texas
10:00-10:50am Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Symptomatology and Recovery Among Veterans
Dr. Jennifer Wood, VA Health Care Center at Harlingen, Assistant Professor,
Department of Psychiatry, UTHSC Harlingen-RAHC, VA Staff Psychologist
10:50-11:00am Break
11:00-11:40am QPR - Model for Suicide Prevention Intervention
Dr. Mary Chandler Bolin, Director, Counseling Center at the University of Kentucky
11:40-12:00pm Q&A session
12:00-1:15pm LUNCH
1:20-2:00pm Breakout Sessions
# 1 Dating and Domestic Violence
Dr. Melissa Alvarado, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies
Ms. Lillian Champion, Executive Director, Friendship of Women, Inc.
# 2 Sexual Abuse: An Overview
Ms. Julia Liebscher, LCSW,UTB/TSC Student Health Services Mental Health Counselor
Ms. Krystal Sanchez, Peer Educator, UTB/TSC student
# 3 Substance Abuse, Mental Health, and Suicide Prevention
Dr. Eugenia Curet, Director, UTB/TSC Student Health Services
# 4 Bullying & Suicide Prevention
Dr. Mary Chandler Bolin, Director, Counseling Center at the University of Kentucky, QPR Master Instructor
2:10-2:50 pm Breakout Sessions
# 1 Dating and Domestic Violence
Dr. Melissa Alvarado, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies
Ms. Lillian Champion, Executive Director, Friendship of Women, Inc.
# 2 Sexual Abuse: An Overview
Ms. Julia Liebscher, LCSW,UTB/TSC Student Health Services Mental Health Counselor
Ms. Krystal Sanchez, Peer Educator, UTB/TSC student
# 3 Substance Abuse, Mental Health, and Suicide Prevention
Dr. Eugenia Curet, Director, UTB/TSC Student Health Services
# 4 Bullying & Suicide Prevention
Dr. Mary C. Bolin, Director, Counseling Center at the University of Kentucky, QPR Master Instructor
Closing Plenary Session
3:00-4:30pm Self-Compassion and Psychological Well-Being
Dr. Kristin Neff, Associate Professor of Human Development and Culture, University of Texas at Austin
4:30-5:00pm Q&A session
5:00pm Presentation of Attendance Certificates and CEUs
DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTATIONS
What are Texas and the U.S. Doing to Prevent Youth Suicide?
This presentation will provide the participants an overview of federal and state data, resources and programs in youth suicide prevention. We will include information on the National and Texas Plans for Suicide Prevention, Texas laws relating to suicide, state services and resources, free information, and free trainings for universities and schools in Texas; as well as possible biopsychosocial precipitants for suicide among youth.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Symptomatology and Recovery Among Veterans
The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of the symptomatology of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and its impact upon Veterans across combat eras. Data regarding prevalence rates, symptom expression and VA care will be reviewed. Emphasis on evidenced-based treatment and recovery rates associated with such will be discussed along with VA initiatives for suicide prevention.
QPR: Model for Suicide Prevention Interventions
This presentation will address myths held about suicide prevention as well as prevention interventions that non-professional persons can utilize to influence someone from completing suicide. The QPR (Question - Persuade - Refer) is one approach to training laypersons on the warning signs of a potential suicide crisis and and how to intervene to connect the at-risk person with appropriate resources. Persons considering suicide most often give hints or confide in trusted individuals within their existing personal network, rather than seeking help initially from a healthcare professional. In 2009 (the most recent year for which complete data is available), in the United States 36,909 persons died by suicide; this represents 1.5 percent of all deaths. In the U.S. in 2009, there were 4,371 documented suicides among those aged 15-24; this number of suicides represents 14.4 percent of all deaths in that age group. This presentation will help you understand how QPR gatekeeper training may be of value to your school, house of worship, organization, agency, or community service.
Dating and Domestic Violence
Adolescents and adults are often unaware of the prevalence of dating violence. Statistics show that dating violence in an issue that significantly impacts our youth and society (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey). There are negative consequences that arise when someone experiences dating violence. Victims of dating violence are more likely to perform poorly in school, report binge drinking, suicide attempts, and physical fighting. Studies also indicate that victims most likely will continue to engage in patterns of violent relationships. Participants will become familiar with the dynamics unique to dating violence, learn warning signs of someone who may be in an unhealthy relationship, and gain an understanding of the effects of dating violence. This presentation will also introduce prevention and intervention strategies used to combat dating violence. In addition, information regarding the services provided by the Friendship of Women Organization will be provided.
Sexual Abuse: An Overview
The purpose of the workshop is to raise and promote sexual abuse awareness and suicide prevention and to help participants to determine and build upon their knowledge of the symptoms of sexual abuse. This workshop will provide information about the following topics: prevalence of Sexual Abuse in the United States; who are the victims - who are the perpetrators; signs and symptoms of sexual abuse; stigma of sexual abuse; long-term effects of sexual abuse; sexual abuse and mental health disorders - avoiding misdiagnosis; and the cycle of abuse. In addition a story of a survivor and healing will be shared with the audience. Resources and services available in the area will be provided to the participants.
Substance Abuse, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
The Stop A Suicide Today newsletter (July 2007) indicates that abusing illicit drugs is common among adolescents and young adults who commit suicide. There is further indication that the use of illicit drugs is often a form of self-medication for mental health disorders among this population. This workshop will address the need for an integrated treatment approach for suicide prevention when providing substance abuse services to adolescents and young adults. The presenter will also refer to the SAMHSA TIP 9 Treatment Improvement Protocol Assessment and Treatment of Patients with Coexisting Mental Illness and Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and to the TIP 50 Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment for a discussion about how to assess for co-existing mental health and substance abuse and risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as well as recommendations for counseling interventions.
Bullying & Suicide Prevention
Billy Lucas. Raymond Chase. Tyler Clementi. Ryan Halligan. Asher Brown. Seth Walsh. What do they have in common? All died by suicide after being bullied because they were gay or because their peers suspected they were gay. According to research data from the National Institutes of Health, 75 percent of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender (LGBT) youth report verbal abuse and one in seven report physical attacks. Bullying -- whether face-to-face confrontation or via the internet -- victimizes not only LGBT youth. In Bullitt County, Kentucky, Mark Neblett's adolescent daughter, Rachel, took her life following cyber stalking and death threats which began in September 2006. Within a year, two of her best friends in high school also died by suicide. A National Institutes of Health (NIH) research study shows that "being bullied interferes with scholastic achievement, development of social skills, and general feelings of well-being." Being bullied also may increase suicide risk. Join us for a discussion about what, as professional providers, we can do to intervene and prevent bullying and suicide among children and young people.
Self-Compassion and Psychological Well-Being
Self-compassion involves treating ourselves kindly, just like we would a good friend we cared about. Rather than continually judging and criticizing ourselves, self-compassion involves generating acceptance and understanding of our human imperfection, and learning to be present with the inevitable struggles of life with greater ease. This presentation includes a discussion of the present theory and research on self-compassion, which has been strongly associated with mental health. Self-compassionate people are generally happier, more optimistic and satisfied with their lives than those who lack self-compassion; and are less likely to be depressed, anxious, abuse drugs and alcohol, or attempt suicide. Research also shows self-compassion is an important tool for caregivers, helping them to avoid compassion fatigue and be more satisfied with their care giving role. By helping caregivers are in the presence of suffering with equanimity, self-compassion can provide the emotional resources needed to nurture others.
For more information or questions,
please contact Student Health Services at
(956) 882-3896 or shs.interns@utb.edu