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The Keynote Speaker is Kevin Hines, survivor and author of “Cracked, Not Broken”
With celebrity suicides leading the headlines the past year and the marked increase in suicides among the youth, NAMI Miami-Dade has stepped up to present the first South Florida Suicide Awareness Conference: “Honest Talk About Suicide and Messages of Hope” on Saturday, March 4, 9 am – 12:30 at the University of Miami Newman Alumni Center. The event is free to the community; however, registration is required.
Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34 in 2020, according to the CDC. Researchers emphasize that reported suicides are likely undercounted. According to the CDC, there is a suicide death in the US every 11 minutes and approximately 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness each year.
“In this community, NAMI Miami-Dade is working to try to stem these potential tragedies, with programs that educate the public to make them aware of mental unwellness among family and friends, which is key,” said Kathy Coppola, Executive Director of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Miami-Dade.
The keynote speaker will be Kevin Hines, a best-selling author, suicide prevention speaker, award winning documentary filmmaker and a survivor. He attempted suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California and lived to become an advocate for suicide prevention. In addition, NAMI will feature leading national and local experts as well as young adults who share their mental health journey with the goal of helping to prevent suicide and saving lives.
“We have to educate everyone about mental health, no matter their age or demographic. We believe the community will benefit from a half day conference to recognize the signs of suicide, what to do and where to go for help,” said Lisa LeSueur, NAMI Miami-Dade’s suicide prevention initiative coordinator.
All NAMI Miami-Dade programs are free – 36 support groups a month, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) and Ending the Silence Presentations to individuals and companies to provide education about suicide and mental health issues. These programs are supported by Thriving Mind South Florida and The Florida Department of Children and Families.
To register for the half day conference, go to: https://TheSouthFloridaSuicideAwarenessConference.eventbrite.com
About NAMI Miami-Dade
NAMI Miami-Dade County is an affiliate of the nation’s largest peer-led mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of individuals affected by a mental health condition and their families. NAMI Miami-Dade offers free and confidential mental health support, education, and advocacy for individuals and their families and friends in both English and Spanish. NAMI Miami-Dade will be hosting their Walk for Mental Health Awareness on Saturday, May 20 at Marlins Park. Sponsors and Teams are welcome. For more information, call 305-665-2540, or visit NAMIMiami.org and connect with us on Facebook or Instagram at @NAMIMiami.
