This is a self-financed conference
sponsored by:
CMHA Barrie/Simcoe Branch
Seasons Centre for Grieving Children
Kinark Child and Family Services
Waypoint Centre
Ontario Provincial Police
Directions:
AGENDA
8:15 to 9:00 - Registration
9:00 to 9:15 - Opening
9:15 to 10:15 - Keynote
Thursday
April 12, 2012
Geneva Park
Orillia, ON
An educational conference for
mental health professionals,
consumers, family members,
police, teachers, emergency
service workers and anyone else
interested in suicide prevention.
Direct all inquiries to:
Terri Baumer, Conference Coordinator
(705) 526-3708
This event is supported by:
YMCA Geneva Park
Some books, pamphlets and information kits will be
available for purchase from Mandala Books.
Exhibit tables are available. Please contact the
Conference Coordinator for more information.
Address #1:
The Aftermath of Suicide: What Survivors Have
Taught Us by Karen Letofsky
Karen Letofsky:
The presentation will explore the unique dynamics of
suicide bereavement including the psychosocial factors
contributing to the loss experience. Support strategies
will also be identified.
10:15 to 10:30 – Break
10:30 to 11:30 - Keynote Address
Suicide by Cop by Dr. Peter Collins
#2:
Peter Collins:
Suicide by cop (SBC) is a method of suicide that occurs
when a subject engages in threatening behaviour in an
attempt to be killed by law enforcement. Dr. Peter
Collins will address the characteristics and circumstances
surrounding these often tragic situations.
11:30 to 12:45 - Lunch
Space is limited. Please register early. Please
pass this brochure on to a friend or
colleague.
A limited number of sponsored registrations
are available. For more information call the
Conference Coordinator.
Registration deadline is April 10. No refunds will be
given, but substitute registrations will be accepted up to
April 10. Please notify the Conference Coordinator in
advance.
A: What do I do and When do I do it?: Dr. Rex
Roman,
All mental health practitioners have at some point in
their career come to cross roads unsure of what they
should, or shouldn’t, say or do next. The boundary lines
can become blurry sometimes; especially when one is
dealing with a suicidal client. Combining lecture style,
case study and round tables this workshop will create
opportunity for practitioners to explore a variety of
potential ethical dilemmas and provide some
frameworks for thinking through these challenges.
12:45 to 2:15 – Workshops A to D (P.M.)
(See descriptions on this page)
2:15 to 2:30 – Break & Transition back to Auditorium
2:30 to 3:20 – CLOSING
SESSION:
Sherry Lawson:
“Are You Where You’re Supposed to Be: Reflections on a
Life” - This presenter will weave personal stories of her
life with perspectives on signs and symbols that helped her
make decisions along the way. She will challenge you to
examine your own life and work and perhaps determine if
you are where you’re supposed to be.
WORKSHOPS (12:45 TO 2:15)
B: No Elephants Allowed:Breaking Down Barriers
to Communication: Joan Kennedy and Nancy Moreau
Battaglia
This workshop explores the often sensitive subject of
sharing openly and honestly about suicide. The
presentation will look at elements of grief and the
grieving process both for children, adolescents and their
families who are bereaved by suicide and suicide risk
for survivors. We will discuss the impact of suicide on
the psycho-social development of children and teens,
and how an adults own feelings regarding suicide can
affect the grief process of the youth with whom they
interact.
C: Spirit Realm Meditation: Mr. John Rice
The workshop will begin with a smudge and brief
overview of the Spirit Path Teaching. Participants will
experience the Spirit Realm Meditation. A meditation
that delivers an experience and understanding of the
concept of B’saanibamaadsiwin – “Life is flowing as it
should”.
D. Catching the Winds of Change: Peter Collins
This presentation will speak to the history of PTSD and
the diagnostic criteria and its association with suicide.
PRESENTERS
Ms. Karen Letofsky has been a grief/crisis counsellor in
the Greater Toronto Area for 35 years. A graduate of the
University of Toronto, she was a member of the Clarke
Institute of Psychiatry’s Bereavement Project, which
initiated the first Canadian support program for the
newly widowed. In 1978 she spearheaded a community
needs assessment for the Ontario Metis and Non-Status
Indian Association. Since 1979, Karen has been the
Executive Director of the Survivor Support Programme,
a pioneer service offering counselling to individuals and
families bereaved by suicide. For 15 years Karen was a
co-instructor at Humber College for its certificate course
“Life-threatening Illness, Death and Bereavement”. In
2003 she also became Executive Director of Distress
Centres, a 24-hour helpline for those who are
marginalized, experiencing acute situational distress, in
crisis or at risk for suicide. In her combined roles, she
continues to be frequently asked to conduct incommunity sudden death debriefs the training of agency
personnel and education workshops.
Peter Collins is the coordinator of Forensic Psychiatry
for the Criminal Behaviour Analysis Unit of the
Behavioural, Forensic & Electronic Service – Ontario
Provincial Police. Peter is also the Consultant Forensic
Psychiatrist to RCMP “O” Division Integrated National
Security Enforcement Team (INSET), the Profiling Unit
of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the
Behavioural Sciences Unit of the Calgary Police Service.
Dr. Collins obtained his Masters in Applied Criminology
from the University of Ottawa, his Medical Degree from
McMaster University and completed his post-graduate
medical training in Psychiatry at the University of
Toronto. In 1997, Peter was elected a member of the
International Criminal Investigative Analysis Fellowship.
In 2000 he was appointed a member of the Interpol
Specialist Group on Crimes against Children. He is a
Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Canadian Navy
Reserve and has served on 2 deployments in Southern
Afghanistan. He is presently assigned to one Canadian
Field Hospital Reserve Detachment and consults to the
two Field Ambulance Mental Health Clinic at CFB
Petawawa. Peter is an expert on violent crime and has
worked with and instructed numerous criminal justice
agencies in Canada, the United States, Central America,
South America, Europe, Africa, South-West Asia,
Mocronesia and Australia including the FBI, the US
Department of Homeland Security, Interpol and Europol.
Dr. Rex Roman: Dr. Rex Roman is currently a ViceChair of the Research Ethics Board of Women’s College
Hospital. Prior to that he worked for the Mississauga
Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) leading
a demographic study of mental health resource
allocation. He has also been a Fellow with the Joint
Centre for Bioethics. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy
from the University of Toronto and has delivered
numerous workshops on a wide variety of issues related
to suicidality and ethical considerations.
Joan Kennedy is a Registered Nurse who has worked in
mental health, palliative care and bereavement with
children, adolescents and adults for over 30 years. She
began her journey with Seasons Centre for Grieving
Children as a volunteer in 1996. In 1998 she was hired
as a Program Assistant. She has been in her present
position as Director of Programs since 2001. She also
holds a Bereavement Education Certificate from the
Canadian Centre for Advanced Training and continues
her studies through the University of Waterloo. Joan’s
past volunteer commitments include Board of Directors
of Simcoe County Brain Injury Association, Board of
Directors of Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Victims
Crisis Assistance and Referral Service, Red Cross and
several working committees on the Simcoe County
District Health Council. Joan recently co-authored a
book for children – What is Suicide Anyways?
Nancy Battaglia is the Program Director at the Seasons
Centre for Grieving Children in Barrie and oversees their
bereavement support program for more than 200 clients.
Nancy facilitates support groups for children, teens and
adults specializing in post-vention for children and teens
bereaved by suicide. Active in pre and post-vention,
Nancy works with educators, parents and agencies,
providing community based education and participating
on various committees. She recently spent time in
Manitoba providing workshops for NAYSPS front line
workers from that region. Nancy received her postgraduate training in Psychotherapy from the Toronto Art
Therapy Association. Nancy also has her undergraduate
degree from Queen’s and an MBA from Schulich.
Mr. John Rice is an Ojibway/Anishinabe from
Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound, Ontario. He
is a third degree member of the Three Fires Midewiwin
Society. He is a former Chief of his community,
employed as a Healer at the Mental Health Centre
Penetanguishene (Waypoint Centre for Mental Health),
Correctional Services Canada and is currently an
Instructor at Georgian College in Barrie. John is an
ASIST Suicide Intervention Trainer.
Ms. Sherry Lawson is currently Administrator of
Heritage Services for the Chippewas of Rama First
Nation. Described more than once as someone who had
difficulty hold a job, Sherry has been a trainer, librarian,
guidance counselor for high risk students, Justice of the
Peace and Casino Director. An author of two autobiographical books, Sherry is Ojibway and Algonkian
and has won awards for her community service. Sherry
prefers to simply be called a story teller.
Terri Baumer
Conference Coordinator
788 Yonge St., Unit 3
Midland ON L4R 2E6
(705) 526-3708
terri.baumer@kinark.on.ca
Registration and payment can be made
online at www.cmha-mhassc.ca
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Registration is limited to the first 200 people who return
a cheque or money order for $60 (includes buffet lunch)
made payable to CMHA Barrie/Simcoe to: