Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Wellness & Recovery Conference

 Friday, September 14, 2018 - 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
5 Free CEU's & complimentary lunch provided

Join us for the 2nd Annual Suicide Prevention & Recovery Conference. This event is a collaborative effort between the McHenry County Mental Health Board and the McHenry County Suicide Prevention Task Force which focuses on suicide prevention, mental health wellness and substance abuse. The theme for 2018 is: 

                   "Uniting Our Voices, Strength and Recovery"

The conference will provide a space for professionals & the community to discuss their concerns, successes, and challenges, and share tools and best practices with all who attend. 

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. 

Who Should Attend: Behavioral Health Providers, Mental Health Professionals, Survivors, Mental Health Consumers, Students and the general community. ALL are encouraged to attend!

Featured Keynote Speaker: Stephen Kavalkovich

Stephen Kavalkovich - Radio Show Host, Speaker, Consultant. Stephen is a long time NJ resident who has been given the gift of many experiences in life. He served as a Paramedic for 15+ years and had the honor of serving as a rescue worker at the World Trade Center on 9/11. 

While saving countless overdose victims in his career, he always felt a pang of sadness when his colleagues would treat a hurting person poorly due to their lack of knowledge concerning addiction. Little did they know that he soon would be no different than many of his patients; stealing pills from  medicine cabinets and from the medical bags he carried.  

It took Stephen overdosing multiple times and being revived by former colleagues, losing his certification, career, marriage, and children to finally change course and start working on a recovery program. 

His focus is to open up a conversation about addressing the underlying pain, trauma, or lack of coping skills that makes one decide to self-medicate. It happened to the rescuer who should have known better. No one is immune to the disease of addiction. Stephen’s story needs to be shared to give others the courage to voice their pain. He feels pain shared is pain lessened.

Stephen has expertise in Emergency Medical Care, First Responder PTSD and Substance Abuse issues, Recovery Coaching, Intervention, Leadership, and Spiritual Studies. 

Breakout Session Topics & Presenters 

Breakout Session I

• Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies - Lindsey Schaffer, MS, RD, LDN
• QPR for Suicide Prevention - Brian McCallum, LCPC & Rachel Boldman, LCPC
• Trauma Informed Care - Erin Brumfield Grima, LCPC
• Words Matter: How Language Choice Can Reduce Stigma - Laura Fry

Breakout Session II

• Medication for Addiction Treatment - Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar, MD MPH, MD, DFASAM, FACPM
• Spirituality & Recovery: Improving Our Spiritual Wellbeing - Nanette Larson (This breakout is full)
• Using Yoga as a Relapse Strategy - Tracy Soos-Walker, LCPC, CADC

Breakout Session III

• Behavioral Reasons People Turn to Food - Dr. Lacey Lemke, PsyD
• #MentalHealth Young Adult Panel Discussion - Scott Block, MA, LCPC, CADC, CCJP
• QPR for Suicide Prevention - Brian McCallum & Rachel Boldman (This breakout is full)

For the Conference Schedule and a brief description of Breakout Sessions CLICK HERE.

Community Sponsors 

Special Accomodations

Become a Sponsor or Vendor

The Suicide Prevention & Recovery Conference has several opportunities for corporate and individual sponsorship. Please contact Denise Bowman at dbowman@mc708.org for additional information. 

Free Exhibitor space available. Please contact Scott Campbell at scampbell@sccnw.org.