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Breakout Sessions
Attendees can join breakout sessions covering key aspects of suicide loss, including survivor well‑being, veteran experiences, forgiveness and LOSS Teams, with practical tools and shared insights from experts and peers, followed by a closing Q&A panel.
Learn more about the breakout sessions below:
Breakout A:
Survivor Wellness
Emma Young, Suicide Grief Coordinator with the Helpline Center and HLC Survivor Committee Members
This session will provide an overview of wellness and the importance of self-care for suicide loss survivors. Attendees will have the opportunity to create their own wellness plan as part of the session.
Breakout B:
Provider Support after Loss
Jody Smith, CSW-PIP, Community Engagement/Partnership Coordinator with the Black Hills Health Care Systems
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
As a provider, when someone you have worked with dies by suicide, this is a profoundly difficult experience, often requiring you to process both the personal and professional impacts while maintaining your duties. Throughout their career, about one-quarter to one-half of mental health providers will experience the loss of a patient to suicide. Even though provider suicide loss is a common professional experience, many providers report a lack of comprehensive suicide postvention support. Acknowledging and addressing this loss is crucial for your personal and professional well-being.
Breakout C:
Turning Grief into Action: LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) Teams
Dr. Don Belau, Ph.D., AFSP Suicide Bereavement Clinician Training Program
This breakout session provides a brief overview as to the mission of LOSS teams. As members of the LOSS team, trained suicide loss survivors can provide support to those recently impacted by suicide loss. A guide as to how to implement a LOSS team will be shared with participants.
Breakout D:
Confronting Thoughts of Guilt After Suicide Loss
Mike Keller, Suicide Prevention and Outreach Program Director with the Helpline Center
It is not uncommon for survivors to feel various levels of guilt after the loss of a loved one to suicide. This breakout will offer practical guidance to determine what is realistic responsibility with feelings of guilt and how to process guilt if necessary.