September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Click to learn more.
Washington, D.C. (February 26, 2019): The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is pleased to announce that Keita Franklin, LCSW, PhD, Chief Clinical Officer for Psych Hub, has joined its Board of Directors. With over 25 years of progressively responsible experience, Dr. Franklin has spent her career driving complex organizational change in the federal sector, improving the systems that provide care for our Nation’s military, family members, and veteran populations.
“I am thrilled about joining the AAS Board of Directors!” said Dr. Franklin. “After close to two decades in federal service where I have worked on multiple task forces and coalitions across various sectors, I am excited about transferring these skills to the non-profit arena to help advance the goals of AAS. I have a keen interest in continuing to advance the national dialogue and implementation of programs surrounding military, family member, and veteran suicide prevention issues. I look forward to contributing and working alongside the dedicated AAS team and fellow board members on important areas like strategic planning and advancement of training initiatives that help to save lives.”
In her current role as Chief Clinical Officer for Psych Hub, she serves as a key member of the executive team overseeing the development and production of all clinical content for Psych Hub’s learning platform of educational training courses and support tools on evidence based practices. A nationally-recognized expert, Dr. Franklin, ensures all clinical content is evidence based and focused on a practical application of the science.
“We’re ecstatic to have Dr. Keita Franklin join the Board,” said Colleen Creighton, CEO of AAS. “Her connection to military and veterans issues will help focus our efforts in these areas and sharpen our effectiveness in helping these groups. Her extensive background in training development and implementation will also be invaluable as we look to enhance our world-class training and accreditation programs.”
Before joining Psych Hub, Dr. Franklin served as a senior executive at both the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Defense. In these roles, Dr. Franklin served as the principal advisor to Department leadership for all matters on suicide prevention, and she is widely credited with leading a transformative, enterprise-wide shift from a crisis intervention posture to an upstream, broad public policy approach focused on continuous surveillance and early prevention.
AAS is dedicated to providing representation that effectively communicates the needs and goals of its membership. By continuing to include a diverse roster of individuals who can address these components, AAS, its committees, and its Board of Directors work strategically to create programs focused on ending suicide in this country and throughout the world.
For the Media: Responsible reporting on suicide, including stories of hope and resilience, can prevent more suicides. Please visit the Suicide Reporting Recommendations for more information.
About AAS: Founded in 1968 by Edwin S. Shneidman, PhD, AAS promotes the research of suicide and its prevention, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. The membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center volunteers, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of lay persons who have in interest in suicide prevention. You can learn more about AAS at www.suicidology.org.
Washington, D.C. (February 25, 2020) – The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is proud to host AAS20, its 53rd Annual Conference, in Portland, OR at the Marriott Downtown Waterfront hotel, April 22 – 25, 2020. Thousands will be in attendance this year, once again making it the largest professional convening place for those who have been touched by suicide. Researchers, academicians, public health officials, prevention specialists and many more, will all join to establish effective strategies for addressing the rising suicide rate in this country. This year’s theme, Crossroads: Preventing Suicide and Creating Lives Worth Living, guided the programming, which was built on a framework of equity.
“AAS has made it a priority to center the voices of black, indigenous, and people of color, not only during the presentations at AAS20, but throughout the development of the program for years to come,” said Dr. Jonathan Singer, President of AAS. “For the field of suicidology to truly begin to make a difference, not just in terms of rates of suicide, but regarding ethical considerations of treatment and prevention, we must first acknowledge the long-standing inequity of services and resources in this country.”
In one of our most inclusive and diverse lineups ever, speakers and subject matter experts featured during our plenary and keynote sessions will address how equity has (and has not) played a role in the prevention, intervention, and postvention of suicide in the US, both historically and currently. The Press Kit highlights this incredible array of speakers.
“We’re welcoming key leading voices with backgrounds in science, research, lived experience, and those with clinical expertise, to start breaking down these barriers between disciplines and to strike at the heart of suicide,” said Colleen Creighton, AAS CEO. “By clearing the way for real conversations to happen, for real work to be done, we can be more effective in understanding the causes behind suicide. Those conversations, that work, all begins here at AAS.”
We have an opportunity to be open to new ideas, new approaches, and to engage with unfamiliar scientific, cultural, and community-based approaches examining and highlighting suicide prevention in ways we never would have imagined. In order to move forward in a way that is inclusive and centers diverse experiences, it is necessary to explore some of the tensions underlying our field. Disparities exist in suicide prevention, not just in rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, but in leadership, representation, research, funding, and in the data we prioritize. In order to prioritize equity, we must intentionally re-dedicate ourselves to doing this work with equity and inclusivity.
At AAS20, we will sharpen our focus and highlight new voices. Specifically, we will honor those transformed by suicide, present innovative research and intervention practices, while integrating social trends to chart new, cohesive and efficient paths to reduce suicide and create a world worth living in. This is our opportunity to make lasting changes to our field and we look forward to you joining us.
In 2018 there were 48,344 suicide deaths in the US, an age adjusted rate of 14.2 per 100,000 population. In the same year there were nearly 1.2 million suicide attempts.
For the Media: Responsible reporting on suicide, including stories of hope and resilience, can prevent more suicides. Please visit the Suicide Reporting Recommendations for more information.
About AAS: The American Association of Suicidology is the world’s largest membership-based suicide prevention organization. Founded in 1968 by Edwin S. Shneidman, PhD, AAS promotes the research of suicide and its prevention, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. The membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center volunteers, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of laypersons who have in interest in suicide prevention. You can learn more about AAS at www.suicidology.org.
BOSTON – (February 18, 2020) – Physician and nurse leader burnout is a public health crisis that demands action across the entire healthcare ecosystem. Burnout not only affects clinicians, but also the entire health system and the patients who depend on quality medical care. At the first annual Physician Burnout Symposium, we will gather thought leaders and stakeholders for a two-day conference to address the many facets of burnout, such as time constraints, technology and regulations. Attendees will gain actionable solutions to implement in their health systems.
The Patient Experience Symposium is partnering with the Sharp Index, a nonprofit dedicated to improving physician well-being and ending physician suicide, to share different voices about how to address and reduce burnout and restore joy in practicing medicine. In addition to the symposium, the Sharp Index will host an annual awards reception on June 23, 2020 at the same venue.
“When our physicians struggle, we all lose. We can’t have good health without them,” said Janae Sharp, founder of the Sharp Index and a suicide loss survivor. “It’s critical that our leaders come together to identify and implement the solutions to the physician burnout crisis. This conference will help them do exactly that.”
A critical topic covered at the conference is clinician suicide, and we are very happy to have the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) partnering with us for our inaugural event. The AAS promotes the research of suicide and its prevention, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers.
“It’s critical to take care of those who take care of us,” said Colleen Creighton, CEO of AAS. “The demands and expectations of our physicians, medical students, those in residency and those reaching the end of their careers, have grown exponentially over the last few decades. We know there is a suicide crisis in the medical profession and having the conversations highlighted at this conference is an important way to save more lives.”
The Physician Burnout Symposium will consist of a half-day of pre-conference workshops focusing on technologies and innovations that help reduce burnout, enabling conference delegates to dive deeper before the main conference begins. Some expert speakers include:
Paul DeChant, MD, MBA, CEO/Principal of Paul DeChant, LLC
Ron Paulus, MD, President and CEO, RAPMD Strategic Advisors
Todd Dunn, Director of Innovation: Intermountain Healthcare Transformation Lab at Intermountain Health
Dese’Rae L. Stage, Artist, Mom, Suicidologist, Activist
Elisa Arespacochaga, VP, Physician Alliance, American Hospital Association
Vivek Garg MD, Chief Medical Officer, CareMore Health
Kevin D. Hopkins, MD, Primary Care Medical Director, Cleveland Clinic
J. Bryan Sexton, MD, Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine
Jonathan B. Singer, Ph.D., LCSW, President, American Association of Suicidology
“We are very excited to be working with The Sharp Index and American Association of Suicidology on this important topic to help reducing clinician burnout while enhancing healthcare organizations’ performance and viability.”, stated Conference Director and President of ICDevents, Bill Doherty.
International Conference Development, LLC (ICDevents) produces high-quality conferences and tradeshows in a broad range of industries. Utilizing intensive, detailed market research, ICDevents creates targeted events designed to encourage companies to send their entire teams to problem-solve, network, and brainstorm with other industry leaders, consultants, and suppliers.
About Sharp Index:
The Sharp Index is a nonprofit dedicated to reducing physician suicide through awareness, best practices, and data science. We advocate for the use of human-focused and data-backed solutions to achieve greater physician well-being and stronger patient care. Together we can create a system to heal the healers. We are interested in conversations that bring more attention to solutions that improve physician well being and empower each individual to make a difference. We also look at system change and raise awareness about improving this complex problem. You can learn more about the Sharp Index at www.sharpindex.org.
About American Association of Suicidology (AAS):
Founded in 1968 by Edwin S. Shneidman, PhD, AAS promotes the research of suicide and its prevention, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. The membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center volunteers, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of lay persons who have in interest in suicide prevention. You can learn more about AAS at www.suicidology.org.
The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) appreciates the opportunity to submit comments and express our support for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) proposed rule, Implementation of the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018. AAS is the nation’s oldest and largest membership-based suicide prevention organization. Founded in 1968, our mission is to promote the understanding and prevention of suicide and to support those who have been affected by it.
Suicide is a massive public health issue in this country. Equitable access to appropriate care, is critical and necessary to ensure people receive the services they require in their time of need or crisis. Additionally, by providing access to rapid care, as in telephonic or texting resources, other services are less likely to be overwhelmed or strained. For instance, the ability for more suicidal crises to be diverted away from emergency services has the potential to alleviate costs to hospital systems and municipalities.
AAS fully supports the FCC’s proposed rule plan to identify a three-digit number – 9-8-8 – to be designated for suicide and other mental health crises. It is also absolutely necessary that these changes are made in ways that limit the amount of potential confusion regarding the transition from the previous number. AAS supports the use of a media campaign to highlight the change with a “launch” date to better distinguish the turn-on of the service, followed by sustained messaging after the fact. Messaging and service provision should include distinct programs for different high-risk populations, such as LGBTQA+, Native American/Alaskan Native, Military Service Members, and others.
AAS also fully supports the use of contemporary technologies as part of these suicide and mental health crises responses, not only telephonic services. In the last 6 years, Crisis Text Line has handled 129 million messages, accomplished over 50,000 crisis de-escalations, and initiated over 30,000 active rescues (interactions where emergency services were required). The ubiquitous use of text messaging, especially among our youth, will require this modality to be included in the processes outlined by the FCC.
Furthermore, the critical nature of these services requires that crisis centers answering calls and texts from those in crisis be adequately resourced to handle the inevitable increase in volumes of contacts. Many crisis centers are underfunded and understaffed. To ensure that crisis calls are answered locally and in a timely fashion, these centers need the appropriate resources to operate at levels that meet the scale of the demand. The legislation implementing the FCC’s plan must include a funding mechanism that ensures crisis center sustainability and enhanced capacity. It is vital that participating centers meet nationally recognized crisis standards by accrediting bodies and implement the evidence-based practices championed by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
As an organizational leader in the field, AAS believes that establishing a unique, 3-digit number for mental health and suicide prevention offers a unique opportunity increase the effectiveness of crisis services in this country. Thank you for your leadership as we work to improve the lives of Americans.
