This Year’s Mental Health Kansas City Conference Focuses on Suicide Prevention and Awareness

The suicide rate in the United States has risen sharply in recent years and in some demographic categories to the highest levels. That’s why suicide prevention and awareness is this year’s theme at the Mental Health Kansas City Conference on Friday, May 3, 2019 at the Cerner Innovations Campus, 8779 Hillcrest Road, Kansas City, Mo.

Internationally known speaker and advocate Kevin Hines is a suicide-attempt survivor and suicide prevention speaker. He survived jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in 2000 in a suicide attempt. Kevin is a highly anticipated keynote speaker at this year’s Mental Health KC Conference.

In addition, internationally known speaker and advocate David W. Covington leads the international initiatives CRISIS NOW and ZERO SUICIDE. David also will be a keynote speaker at the conference.

The conference was designed to help reduce the stigma of mental health illnesses and elevate mental health dialogues in the workplace during the month of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. The Mental Health Kansas City Conference exists to demonstrate that psychologically healthier workplaces are in the best interest of all businesses. The daylong conference was established to target local business leaders, HR professionals, first responders, educators, community members and more. The conference sells out every year so those interested are encouraged to register early.

Tri-County Mental Health CEO Tom Petrizzo worked with at least seven other behavioral health executives in Metro Kansas City to develop the Mental Health Kansas City Conference more than six years ago. Today, this same group, the Metro Council of Community Behavioral Health Centers, leads the charge on the annual conference. And, since its inception, the council has been fortunate to partner with Cerner who acts as the conference host and major sponsor.

Some of the breakout session topics for the 2019 conference include:

  • Combating the opioid crisis
  • Facing anxiety: Getting out of your mind and into your life
  • Work life integration
  • Sensitive communication and managing compassion fatigue in the workplace
  • Creating a thrive filter for adolescents struggling with anxiety and depression
  • A brief explanation of how mindfulness can change the brain
  • When your calling creates burnout: Building resilience for helping professionals
  • Understanding depression in the elderly
  • Medication assisted treatment: Overcoming stigma – stories of substance abuse recovery

For more information, click the conference website:
https://mentalhealthkc.org/mental-health-conference/

To register, click the event website:
https://www.cvent.com/events/mental-health-kansas-city/event-summary-73bf9add457d4a9987534392f8ffed7a.aspx