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The SPRC Discussion Series on Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention among Older Adults

Jerry Reed, MSW, Executive Director, SPAN USA
August 11, 2005

This session will review the data and describe the special characteristics pertaining to suicide in the elder population. Mr. Reed will talk about elder suicide prevention programs and their evidence-base. Participants will share their knowledge and expertise in the area and will have an opportunity to engage in a discussion with the speaker and their peers.

To find more resources about suicide prevention among older adults, visit the Elders Category of the SPRC Online Libray

Speaker's Biography

Jerry Reed serves as Executive Director of the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, Inc. Prior to assuming this position on July 1, 2003, Jerry served as an independent consultant working on health care, mental health, geriatric and suicide prevention issues. He most recently worked with the Center for Mental Health Services on a variety of initiatives in support of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and also served as project liaison with the three-year Hotline Linkage and Evaluation Project (HELP) and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). He received an MSW degree with an emphasis in Aging Administration from the University of Maryland at Baltimore in 1982. He spent 15 years as a career civil servant working in both Europe and the United States as a civilian with the Department of the Army developing, implementing and managing a variety of quality of life programs including substance abuse prevention and treatment, family advocacy, child and youth development programs, social services and the range of morale, welfare and recreation programs. Selected as a Congressional Fellow in 1996, he worked in the Office of Senator Harry Reid (NV) serving as senior advisor on health care, mental health, suicide prevention and aging issues. Upon completion of the fellowship he accepted a full time position with the U.S. Senate and completed his assignment in 1999 as Deputy Chief of Staff for Senator Reid. Jerry is currently working on a doctoral degree in Health Related Sciences with an emphasis on Gerontology at the Virginia Commonwealth University.

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Participants

Jerry Reed, Executive Director, Suicide Prevention Action Network, USA

Jeffrey Backer, Bureau of Policy and Program Development, Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Jeremy Brigham, Coordinator, Iowa Suicide Prevention Strategy Committee

Dr. Kathleen Buckwalter, Professor, University of Iowa School of Nursing

Heather Burkhardt, North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services

Reese Butler, President and Founder, Kristin Brooks Hope Center

Kelly Chatwood, Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Kitsap County Health District, Washington

Lillian A. Colavecchio, Interim Director, Office of Elder Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Jane Crowley, Colorado Department of Human Services, Mental Health Division

Amy Flaherty, Aging Services Specialist, Pennsylvania Department of Aging

Sheryl Gamble, Director, ElderVention Program, Area Agency on Aging, Region One, Arizona

Allan Goldman, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services

Patricia Arreola Leyva, ElderVention Program, Area Agency on Aging, Region One, Arizona

Michael Mann, Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, New Jersey

Mitch Magness, Gerontologist, Oklahoma Department of Health

Laurie Moore, Senior Mental Health Outreach Program

Virginia Mosca, New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services

Todd Ringelstein, New Hampshire Area Agency on Aging

Mike Slaughter, Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Valley Health Care, West Virginia

Jackie Tally, New Jersey Department of Health and Disabilities

Carol Weiss, New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health Services, Office of Quality Improvement and Specialty Services

Ramya Sundararaman, Prevention Support Coordinator, Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Louisa Holmes, Prevention Specialist, Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Lori Bradshaw, Information Specialist/Librarian, Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Heidi Smith, Project Coordinator, Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Ellen Freedman, Senior Prevention Specialist, Suicide Prevention Resource Center

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