Lenape Valley Foundation's 2026 Suicide Prevention Conference
About this Event
Join Lenape Valley Foundation’s Annual Suicide Prevention Conference on October 2, 2026, for a day of education, inspiration, and connection focused on saving lives and strengthening communities. Featuring keynote speaker Kevin Briggs, renowned crisis intervention expert and former Golden Gate Bridge patrol officer, the conference will explore resilience, post-traumatic growth, and practical suicide prevention strategies.
Attendees can choose from a variety of breakout sessions addressing emerging topics such as AI and suicide risk, crisis communication, supporting gender-diverse youth, safety planning across the lifespan, traumatic stress, and the role of lived experience in healing. Mental health professionals, educators, healthcare providers, first responders, and community members are encouraged to attend.
Whether you’re a clinician, caregiver, educator, advocate, or someone passionate about mental wellness, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and help save lives.
Continuing Education Credit Information
All attendees will be eligible to receive a PDF certificate of attendance upon completion of the online course evaluation.
This conference is approved for 5 CE contact hours by the PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.
This conference is ACT 48 eligible.
The conference is approved for 5 EMS/CPC credits, and 5 CLEE credits for law enforcement.
Questions?
Contact Suzanne Rhodeside at [email protected] or 267-893-5280.
Sponsorship & Exhibit Table Opporuntities Available
To sponsor/table, visit http://weblink.donorperfect.com/spc2026sponsor
Presenting Sponsor: $5,000
- Listing as co-sponsor of the event in all event marketing, in print and online
- Logo included on event registration website
- Recognition in welcome remarks
- Logo/Slide included in break presentation
- Link to company website included in pre & post event e-mails to attendees
- Opportunity to include promotional materials in attendee packets/bag
- Complimentary registration for up to 8 individuals
- Resource table at event
Keynote Sponsor: $2,000
- Logo included on event registration website
- Logo/Slide included in break presentation
- Link to company website included in pre & post event e-mails to attendees
- Opportunity to include promotional materials in attendee packets/bag
- Complimentary registration for up to 6 individuals
- Resource table at event
Breakout Session Sponsor – $1,000
- Recognition as sponsor of a breakout session
- Logo included on event website and session materials
- Verbal recognition at start of sponsored session
- Logo/slide displayed at the beginning of the sponsored session
- Opportunity to include promotional materials in attendee packets/bag
- Complimentary registration for up to 4 attendees
- Resource table at event
Supporting Sponsor: $300
- Logo/Slide included in break presentation
- Complimentary registration for up to 2 individuals
- Resource table at event
Special thanks to our 2025 presenting sponsors, the Vesta Fund and the Bucks County Suicide Prevention Task Force!
Agenda
🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:30 AM
Check-in, Vendor Fair & Breakfast
🕑: 08:30 AM - 08:45 AM
Welcome Remarks
Host: Dave Herold, Lenape Valley Foundation CEO
🕑: 08:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Understanding Resiliency & Post-Traumatic Growth
Host: Kevin Briggs, Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge
Info: Known around the world as the "Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge," retired California Highway Patrol Sergeant Kevin Briggs has spent decades helping people through moments of profound crisis, preventing hundreds of suicides through compassion, connection, and hope. In this powerful keynote, Kevin explores resilience and post-traumatic growth, sharing personal experiences and practical insights that demonstrate the human capacity to overcome adversity and emerge stronger. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of empathy, support, and meaningful connection in fostering healing, emotional wellness, and hope after life's most difficult challenges.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LUNCH, Vendor Fair & Networking
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Breakout Sessions 1
Info: Attendees will choose to attend one of 3 workshops offered. See above tab for details.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:15 PM
BREAK: Vendor Fair & Networking
🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:15 PM
Breakout Session 2
Info: Attendees will choose to attend one of 3 workshops offered. See above tab for details
🕑: 02:15 AM - 02:30 PM
BREAK: Vendor Fair & Networking
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Breakout Session 3
Info: Attendees will choose to attend one of 3 workshops offered. See above tab for details
🕑: 03:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Conclusion
Breakout 1A, 1B, 1C
When Technology Turns Dangerous: AI Companions and High-Risk Behaviors
Host: Melanie Morgan, LPC
Info: Knowledge is Power! While artificial intelligence (AI) offers many valuable tools and resources, it also presents emerging risks, particularly for vulnerable populations such as youth and individuals experiencing mental health challenges. This training is designed to provide educational insight into AI companions and their potential influence on increased risk for suicide, self-harm, and violent behavior. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of these risks to support awareness, assessment, and prevention efforts.
Part 1: Changing the Lens: Perception, Thinking Patterns, and Hope in Recovery
Host: Dr. Patrick McElwaine
Info: Drawing from both personal recovery experience and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), this interactive two-part workshop explores how perception, thoughts, and values influence emotional well-being and suicide prevention. Participants will engage in experiential exercises, including perception activities, the RAP (Realistic, Adaptive, Positive) framework, and a Values Card Sort activity. Through storytelling, discussion, and practical CBT tools, attendees will learn strategies to foster hope, resilience, meaning, and recovery in themselves and those they support.
Wounded Healers: Skilled Vulnerability in Psychotherapy
Host: Dr. Diane Abatemarco
Info: Suicide has a profound impact on loss survivors, and behavioral health care providers are not immune. The heart of this model is the integration of our own wounds into the therapeutic process through Mindfulness Dialogue. This approach to human interaction helps deepen our presence and fosters the capacity to hold the tension of wounds that would otherwise overwhelm. This workshop will give you a taste of the Wounded Healers model and point to ways to begin to practice it.
Breakout 2A, 2B, 2C
Crisis Communication
Host: Kevin Briggs
Info: This interactive workshop explores the fundamentals of effective crisis communication in high-stress and emotionally charged situations. Participants will learn practical strategies for active listening, de-escalation, empathy, and clear messaging when supporting individuals in crisis. Through real-world examples, attendees will gain tools to communicate with compassion, build trust, and respond confidently during critical moments. This workshop emphasizes human connection, emotional awareness and communication techniques that help save lives.
Part 2: Living What Matters: Values, Purpose, and Building a Life Worth Living
Host: Dr. Patrick McElwaine
Info: Drawing from both personal recovery experience and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), this interactive two-part workshop explores how perception, thoughts, and values influence emotional well-being and suicide prevention. Participants will engage in experiential exercises, including perception activities, the RAP (Realistic, Adaptive, Positive) framework, and a Values Card Sort activity. Through storytelling, discussion, and practical CBT tools, attendees will learn strategies to foster hope, resilience, meaning, and recovery in themselves and those they support.
Supporting Gender Diverse Youth
Host: Eliza Magland, CRNP, PMHNP-BC
Info: Gender diverse youth are at particularly high risk for suicide and often struggle to find support that helps them feel accepted and safe. In this workshop, participants will develop a greater understanding of gender diversity in today’s youth, myths and misconceptions, current research and scientific evidence, and the challenges transgender and nonbinary young people face. Principles of gender-affirming mental healthcare along with practical skills will be presented and practiced in order to strengthen participants’ ability to join with and provide meaningful care to this population.
Breakout 3A, 3B, 3C
Safety Planning for Elementary-Aged Youth
Host: Kelsey Bero, LPC
Info: This workshop will help attendees identify and use age-appropriate language to introduce and design a safety plan with elementary-aged youth. The main learning objective will focus on adaptations and application of safety planning steps to collaboratively create a safety plan with preadolescent youth. We will also discuss how to confidently communicate safety plan components to parents/caregivers of youth for effective implementation.
Identifying Risk Factors Safety Planning for Older Adults
Host: Janelle Eliason
Info: In 2022, among Americans; older adults (65 & over) had the highest increase in suicide rates at 8.1% (ncoa.org) of any other age group. This workshop will explore the many reasons that can attribute for this alarming number as well as the challenges our older adults, their family, and care team face when addressing SI, diagnoses, and creative safety planning. Implementing a team approach to demonstrating the benefit of a highly individualized safety plan will also be discussed.
Sound Therapy: A Modality to Address Traumatic Stress
Host: Dr. Berit Carlson
Info: Traumatic stress and emotional dysregulation are often factors in suicidality. Sound is a modality that can be used to address psychological conditions that impact the emotional stability and wellness of individuals with traumatic stress. Sound/vibration-based practices can support the healing pathway of reducing anxiety, improving sleep, supporting emotional regulation without verbal pressure, and balancing nervous system regulation. A brief tuning fork demonstration will be provided at the end of the seminar.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 50.00
