On December 20th, NJAC held its Year End Summit on the Suicide Crisis at the Trenton Country Club located at 201 Sullivan Way in West Trenton, NJ.
Nearly 200 government officials, with representatives from all 21 counties, and business leaders are expected to participate in this event. The Summit commenced in the Grand Ballroom at 10:00 a.m. with Elizabeth Leclerc, a junior at the Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School, performing the National Anthem.
There were two panels for discussion on the concerns with the suicide crisis and both were moderated by Eric Scott of NJ 101.5. Subject matter experts from across the State discussed Suicides on the rise and examined the alarming the alarming increase in suicide rates among teenagers, adults, veterans, and law enforcement professionals. Panelists were Tricia Baker of Attitudes in Reverse; Valentina Sanchez of the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County; Roy Diaz from Cop2Cop; and Jennifer Stivers of Community Hope.
The second discussion pertained to Suicide Prevention and Awareness. Mental health specialists and other leading authorities discussed essential strategies for prevention and recommend resources for providing vital support to those in need. Panelists were Maria Kirchner of the NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies; Shauna Moses of the NJ Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies; Maureen Underwood of Lifelines: A Suicide Prevention Program; Andrew Onimus of Minding Your Mind; and Douglas Forrester of First Responder Partnership Health Center and Integrity Health.
Lastly at 12:30 p.m. our keynote speaker, Nick LeDonne, addressed the audience about his personal experience.
The recurring message throughout the day was the importance of simply talking to someone who might be struggling.
THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE HOST:
NJAC would also like to thank NJ Petroleum Council for being a Club Sponsor; its breakfast sponsors – CFG Health Network, Genova Burns, and JCT Solutions; and its luncheon sponsors – AT & T, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, MRA International and PNC Bank. Thanks to our following vendors: Aetna Better Health for New Jersey; Hampton Behavioral Health Center; Integrity Health; Mental Health Association of Monmouth County; Nationwide; Primepoint HRMS & Payroll; Recovery Centers of America; and Sanders Phillips Grossman.