NDVS and Key Partners Attend National Conference to Widen Lens on Suicide Prevention

The Suicide Prevention Program Manager, Sarah Hogue, was among those attending the American Association of Suicide Prevention Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois from April 27-30th.

This conference was robust, with diverse topics to include military, veteran, and family-based sessions, faith-based initiatives, racial justice and equity, Native American voices, postvention and survivors of suicide, research presentations, and more. Attendance at this important conference provided our Nevada Mayor’s and Governor’s Challenge teams the opportunity to network on a grand scale with leaders in the field of suicide prevention, enhance collaboration, and learn alongside each other, better equipping us on the front line of prevention.

The NDVS Suicide Prevention Program is proud to have also funded seven additional community members who take action in the field of suicide prevention: Councilman Paul Anderson, Truckee Meadows Mayor’s Challenge Team Lead; Gregory Gray, Las Vegas Mayor’s Challenge Team Lead; Sergeant Anthony Matthews, Elko Mayor’s Challenge Team; Officer Kevin Wiggin, Winnemucca Mayor’s Challenge Team Lead; Vanessa Williams, Prevention Outreach Coordinator for the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center; Cara Dixon, LCSW, Behavioral Health Consultant for Indian Health Services providing services to the tribes and veterans in Northeastern Nevada; and Cynthia Wachsmuth, Substance Abuse Counselor for Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribal Health Center.

Our team was joined at this conference by numerous other Nevada partners, including Misty Vaughan Allen, Suicide Prevention Coordinator and Co-Lead of the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.