On April 20, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) will host an LGBT suicide prevention symposium at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
The symposium will feature talks from leaders in the fields of mental health and the LGBT community. They will present information on suicide prevention and survivor support within the LGBT community.
According to its website, "the AFSP is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide."
The AFSP has a Chapter Advisory Committee on LGBT Issues under its LGBT initiative umbrella that is, according to its website, "working to create LGBT mental health educational resources and training tools to educate mainstream suicide prevention organizations, LGBT health/rights groups and the general public on the issue of suicide and suicide risk among LGBT individuals." The committee also developed and submitted to the AFSP Public Policy Council its recommendations about legislative and regulatory initiatives affecting LGBT people.
The day will feature an opening address by Michael McRaith, who is a survivor of loss by suicide. McRaith is an AFSP board member and the director of the Federal Insurance Office for the United States Treasury.
Dr. Brian Mustanskian AFSP grant recipient as well as an associate professor and director of Northwestern's IMPACT LGBT Health and Development Programwill discuss his research findings. Matthew Breen, editor-in-chief of The Advocate magazine, will discuss the intersection of LGBT individuals, mental health and the media.
In addition, Illinois Safe School's Alliance GSA Coordinator Lawrence Carter will talk about community resources. Karma Israelsen, interim president and CEO of the Howard Brown Health Center, will speak on mental health services. Steve Moore, legislative committee chairperson and a member of the board of directors of the Illinois chapter of the AFSP, will speak about local, state and national policies surrounding suicide prevention. Simon Chavez, LGBT outreach committee co-chairperson and LGBT Symposium Chicago 2013 co-chairperson, will talk about community resources focusing on the LGBT community at the local and state level. Also, Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy will speak at the event.
"My hope is that this symposium increases the public's understanding of these issues," said April Jervis, Illinois' ASFP director. "Additionally, I hope attendees learn the warning signs of suicide, the resources that are available for mental healthcare and community support, and what to do if a loved one is in crisis or if they lose someone they love to suicide,."
Moore added that "[t]he American Foundation for Suicide Prevention recognizes the importance of addressing the issue of suicide in the LGBT community.
"LGBT youth are especially at risk for suicide due to additional risk factors such as the stress of being the victim of bullying and violence and a feeling of nonconformity, amplified by the absence of protective factors such as support from family and friends. We hope that this symposium will assist participants in preventing suicide in the LGBT community."
Chavez said, "We are really thrilled to have this event here in Chicago. Within the LGBT community we know that there are multiple factors that may lead a person to have suicidal thoughts or instances of self-harm including instances of bullying, discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and isolation.
"When some commits suicide it not only affects their family and friends it also affects the community overall. As for the conference itself, we are happy that a number of community leaders have signed on to present their information and resources to the attendees."
The event sponsors are Impact-the LGBT Health and Development Program at Northwestern University, Chicago's Progressive Talk WCPT AM & FM, Windy City Media Group, and PepsiCo.
The organizations that have partnered with the AFSP include the Howard Brown Health Center, the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance and the National Runaway Safeline. They will also be highlighting their programs during the symposium.
Attendees will also be provided with a number of informational materials from the AFSP such as "When You Fear Someone May Take Their Life" and "A Healing Guide for Survivors of Suicide."
The symposium will be held in the conference center of the Feinberg School of Medicine, 251 E. Huron, third floor, meeting room A, Chicago, IL 60611 from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Tickets for the symposium are $10 or students and seniors; general admission is $25. VIP tickets are $50 and include access to the reception following the symposium. They can be purchased at www.PreventLGBTSuicide.org .
See www.afsp.org/index.cfm for more information.