Skip to this page's content

Suicide Prevention Education

Suicide is a major public health problem.  An average of 31,000 people take their own lives each year in the United States.  It is the third leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds, comprising more deaths in that age group than all natural causes combined.   The suicide rate of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is twice as high as in the general population. Urban youth living in neighborhoods with violence and drugs, engage in risky behavior not always recognized as suicidal.  And yet, death rates from suicide are highest among older adults ages 70 and over.

Social workers are strategically positioned in a wide range of settings to encounter potentially suicidal clients and their families and so it is extremely important that they be trained to identify and intervene effectively with those at risk.  In this conference we highlight the vulnerable populations of GLBT youth, urban youth, veterans, and the elderly and consider interventions at community, family and individual levels. 

This page will be featuring information on conferences, seminars, and research over the next year concerning suicide prevention.

Our first event is the following conference:

EDUCATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION: PLACES, FACES, AND THE PRACTICE EXPERIENCE

WORK WITH COMMUNITIES, VULNERABLE GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS

Date: Saturday, June 14, 8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Place: Simmons College, Boston, MA Paresky Center, Main College Building

Download the program and registration form: Conference brochure

In This Section

Suicide Prevention Education Research Group

Ruth Dean, Director

617/521-3912

Marilyn Downs

no Simmons #

Gianna Gifford

617/521-2777

Thom Harrigan

617/521-3947

Hugo Kamya

617/521-3948

David Robinson

617/521-2951