Connecting Communities to Save Lives Conference

Welcome to the Connecting Communities to Save Lives Suicide Prevention Conference! Join us on Fri, Sep 25, 2026 at Idaho State University, Pond Student Union Building Ballroom, Pocatello for a day dedicated to raising awareness and sharing resources to prevent suicide. This in-person event will bring together experts, community members, and advocates to discuss strategies for supporting mental health and well-being. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with others who are passionate about saving lives and making a difference in our communities. Together, we can make a positive impact and help those in need. See you there!

Registration is 8:15 AM to 8:45 AM. Conference begins at 8:45 AM

Early Bird pricing on tickets purchased by August 31, 2026!

Registration closes September 22, 2026

Sally Spencer-Thomas, Psy D. likes to joke that she “grew up professionally” in the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) -- and it shows. A clinical psychologist, impact entrepreneur, and longtime AAS leader (including past Secretary, Executive Board Member, and Survivor of Suicide Loss Division Director), Sally has spent her career helping shape the field from the inside out.

After losing her brother Carson to suicide, she became a fierce champion for people with lived experience -- not just as storytellers, but as co-creators of real change. She is the co-founder of United Suicide Survivors International and a driving force behind initiatives that elevate lived experience as a cornerstone of effective prevention.

Sally has a particular knack for going where the field hasn’t fully gone yet -- most notably, the workplace and men's mental health. As co-developer of the beloved "Man Therapy," the nation's first comprehensive workplace suicide prevention program, and lead author of the National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention, she has helped organizations across industries turn awareness into action, reaching tens of thousands of workers and leaders with practical, culture-shifting strategies.

Known for blending stories, science, and a healthy dose of humor, Sally’s work helps international audiences tackle one of our most complex public health challenges with both courage and clarity. She still believes the best ideas often come from those closest to the pain, and she’s on a mission to ensure we actually listen.

Jesse D. Hinckley, MD, PhD is board-certified in general psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and addiction medicine. He completed his MD and PhD at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he is an adjunct associate professor and conducts research to better understand the development of substance use disorders in adolescents, the interaction between substance use problems and mental health disorders, and how to effectively treat comorbid disorders.

He resides full time in Idaho with his family, where he practices as a child and adolescent psychiatrist and is the training director for the psychiatry residency training program at HCA Healthcare Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Hinckley currently serves as the chair of the HCA Healthcare Behavioral Health Research Advisory Board, medical director of Headwaters Behavioral Health, contributing editor for the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and associate editorial board member for Adolescent Psychiatry.

Dr. Hinckley is the recipient of multiple awards, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Resident Training Award in Substance Use Disorders and is currently conducting research as a recipient of the AACAP Physician Scientist Program in Substance Use K12 Career Development Award.

Outside of professional responsibilities, Dr. Hinckley is an avid choral musician, wildlife photographer, dog breeder and trainer, and bibliophile.

Info: When Substances and Suicidal Thoughts Collide

Info: Helping People Living with Suicidal Intensity with Confidence and Compassion

Info: Helping People Living with Suicidal Intensity with Confidence and Compassion

Info: Helping People Living with Suicidal Intensity with Confidence and Compassion

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