Welcome and Warm-up

Kirk Postlewaite, Senior Program Specialist/Director, VTSPC, and Zan Lewis, Program Specialist, CHL.

Kirk opened the meeting and gave an agenda overview for the morning.

Update on Comprehensive Suicide Prevention and Garrett Lee Smith Grants at the Vermont Department of Health

Nick Nichols, CDC Suicide Prevention Grant Coordinator and Elora Taylor, GLS Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator, shared updates and priorities for each grant. To view updates, priorities and resources including the Suicide Data Linkage Project and Holiday Mental Health Social Media Toolkit, please see the full meeting notes.

VDH is working on a statewide promotion of Man Therapy. If you are interested in learning more or accessing content, please reach out to FacingSuicideVT@vermont.gov. 

Elora shared educational offerings through the GLS grant for schools, youth-serving organizations, and others. To access trainings or learn more, contact Elora at elora.taylor@vermont.gov. 

Department of Mental Health: State Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention Updates and Discussion

Chris Allen, State Suicide Prevention Director, shared updates in the planning process for the development of Vermont’s first Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan, including meetings held for community and agency representative feedback, the role of the Steering Committee in developing the plan, and upcoming activities. Chris also shared emerging themes and solicited feedback from the Coalition. For more details, please see the full meeting notes, and reach out to Chris at christopher.m.allen@vermont.gov to share thoughts about the plan. 

CAMS in Our Communities

Kevin Crowley, PhD, CAMS-Care Consultant, presented on CAMS’ philosophy of care within clinical practice and shared the Suicide Status Form and how it is used for the initial session and subsequent sessions. He also discussed how CAMS can be used in short-term care settings including emergency departments and inpatient settings.

Mapping the Suicide Prevention Mental Health System of Care in Chittenen County, Vermont

Jake Bleau and Devin Hebert, students with the UVM Larner College of Medicine, shared their project in partnership with United Way of Northwestern Vermont. In the project they developed a sequential intercept model which representing five (5) intercepts – areas of contact across the mental health system – and how clients may move through that system. Project details are included in the meeting notes, and those with questions can reach out to Jake (jacob.bleau@med.uvm.edu) and Devin (devin.hebert@med.uvm.edu). 

2024 Legislative Activities Discussion

Heather White, AFSP VT Area Director and Terri Lavely, AFSP VT Board Chair, led an interactive group session focused on AFSP’s four Legislative Priorities for 2024: 1) Research, Data & Infrastructure; 2) Access to Care & Services; 3) Diverse, Underserved, and Disproportionately Impacted Communities; and 4) Systems Change & Firearms Suicide Prevention. To stay up to date on public policy issues and events, please visit https://afsp.org/advocacy-resources/. To join the Advocacy Committee, email Heather at hwhite@afsp.org.