Suicide prevention 2: Lives built on hope

This is the second webinar in a two-part series exploring the latest research and perspectives on suicide prevention. Part 1 can be found here.

In this session, learn about systemic challenges to suicide prevention, including the intersection of workplace culture and wellbeing, the lack of cultural diversity in research and planning, and access to lethal means. You’ll discover upstream approaches to suicide prevention and come away with steps we can collectively take to help create lives worth living.

Participants can expect to learn about:

• Systemic challenges to suicide prevention, and evidence-based approaches for reducing suicidal behaviors 
• Characteristics of work cultures that predict higher rates of wellbeing and lower rates of serious psychological distress
• Steps we can take together to help create lives worth living

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Jen Brandt, PhD 

Elected as a distinguished fellow of the National Academies of Practice in social work, Jen Brandt, PhD, has worked for over three decades as a sociologist, social worker, educator, researcher, and clinician. Her focus areas include suicidology, social justice, grief and loss, interpersonal violence, complex trauma, crisis intervention, mental health, communications, and developing work cultures and systems that support thriving professionals and teams. 

As director of wellbeing initiatives at the AVMA, Brandt co-developed AVMA’s Workplace Wellbeing Certificate and Train the Trainer wellbeing educator programs. She previously co-founded The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Honoring the Bond Program, one of the first programs in the nation aimed at recognizing and honoring the human-animal bond by providing culturally sensitive support and resources to animal owners and animal care professionals. Brandt is a certified psychological autopsy investigator and certified crisis worker through the American Association of Suicidology, and a certified anti-oppression informed practitioner through the National Association of Social Workers. She has worked as a senior trainer for the Institute for Healthcare Communication since 2004. Brandt earned her PhD in social work from The Ohio State University. 

ABOUT THE HOST: Deborah A. Stone, PhD, CVPM

Deborah Stone, PhD, has been involved with the veterinary profession for more than 30 years. She has experience in specialty, emergency, and general practice management. She holds an MBA in business management, a PhD in organizational leadership, and is a certified veterinary practice manager. She also is a published author, and national and international speaker. She has served as president of VetPartners, a member of the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation board of trustees, and assistant director of continuing education at the AVMA.