The Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition (JSPC) will hold a two-day conference called “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Suicide: Learn, Change, Prevent” all day on Thursday and Friday, June 2-3 at the University of Alaska Southeast. An evening session will also take place on Thursday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m. There is no cost for the conference and meals will be provided.
The conference builds on the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition’s conference last year, Trauma and Suicide: Breaking the Link. Through an in-depth data analysis the JSPC discovered the link between childhood trauma and suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts. Childhood trauma includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, bullying, and family dysfunction.
The purpose of the conference is to learn about the effects of trauma (toxic stress) on the body, as well as how the community can work together to prevent childhood trauma and make the systemic changes needed to reduce childhood trauma and suicide. All behavioral health and primary care providers, law enforcement personnel, educators, child care providers and early childhood professionals, social service workers, as well as civic leaders, tribal leaders, the business community, and members of the general public are invited to attend.
The conference will include keynote speakers and workshops on the following topics: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and suicide; suicide risk and ACEs assessment in primary care; historical and intergenerational trauma; trauma-informed schools and structures; and “Collective Impact”—a framework to mobilize community efforts to address a complex problem.
The conference is being funded through a grant from the state Division of Behavioral Health Prevention Services. To learn more about the conference and to register, please go to www.juneausuicideprevention.org.
