September 27, 2018
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center , the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Nationwide Children's Hospital will host the fifth annual suicide prevention conference, “Suicide Prevention at Ohio Schools and Campuses” from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday at the Ohio Union’s Archie Griffin Ballroom, 1739 N. High St.
Dr. Eileen Ryan, interim chair of the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, and Dr. Mark Hurst, medical director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, will lead the conference. More than 350 participants will hear from leading researchers and advocates who will discuss the latest strategies, advancements and outcomes regarding suicide prevention in the school and campus community.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students in the United States, and many at-risk students go unrecognized and untreated. Ohio State President Michael V. Drake will provide brief remarks. Ryan and Javaune Adams-Gaston, senior vice president of Ohio State’s Student Life, will discuss the campus response to student suicide, including the recent organization of an Ohio State Suicide Task Force.
Cheryl King, director of the Youth Depression and Suicide Prevention Program and a professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan, will discuss college students’ perceived barriers to mental health services and describe a new intervention designed to link these students to services.
Other speakers include:
- Jade Grubb, supervisor of the Crisis Text Line, will explain how this service is helping Ohioans.
- Jeff Bridge, director of the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research, and Glenn Thomas, clinical director of Community-based Services for Behavioral Health, both at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, will discuss the school settings as a site for suicide prevention.
- John R. Aller, executive director, and Michele Boone, director of clinical services, both at Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, will discuss a recent Stark County youth suicide cluster.
Media representatives are asked to call the Media Relations office at 614-293-3737 to make arrangements for event coverage. The complete conference agenda is available here.
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Media Contact: Eileen Scahill, Wexner Medical Center Media Relations, 614-293-3737, Eileen.Scahill@osumc.edu