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1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
Mini Conferences
Lighthouse hosted over 105 Virginia Beach high school students at our 2008 Teen Mini-Conference. We also welcomed 78 school staff and mental health professionals. The overwhelming success of this conference was evident from the positive feedback we received from conference participants.
Dr. Paul Aravich opened the event with a presentation addressing the medical foundation of depression and mental illness, and encouraging our students to ask questions and to become leaders in changing the stigma associated with mental illness. Our second speaker, John Koehler, shared with the students his personal experience as someone living with bipolar disorder. As clear from the conversations that continued into our lunch, the speakers raised questions and opened up new ways of viewing depression and suicide for our attendees.
Outcome measurements are built into all of our education and prevention efforts. Evaluation responses from students at the February mini-conference indicate the positive impact of the event:
o 98% of participants in the teen mini-conference indicated they had learned new facts about depression and suicide at the event.
o 100% indicated that they understand the connection between depression and suicide.
o 86% indicated they know how to reach out to a friend who is depressed.
INAL has targeted outreach to students in high school. It is our belief that education and awareness provides ripples into our community. These students go home to their families, informed and prepared to recognize warning signs and symptoms or depression and suicide. They are also empowered to intervene. By arming high school students, we are preparing them for the independence of college, where the risk of depression and suicide is significant.
Dr. Paul Aravich opened the event with a presentation addressing the medical foundation of depression and mental illness, and encouraging our students to ask questions and to become leaders in changing the stigma associated with mental illness. Our second speaker, John Koehler, shared with the students his personal experience as someone living with bipolar disorder. As clear from the conversations that continued into our lunch, the speakers raised questions and opened up new ways of viewing depression and suicide for our attendees.
Outcome measurements are built into all of our education and prevention efforts. Evaluation responses from students at the February mini-conference indicate the positive impact of the event:
o 98% of participants in the teen mini-conference indicated they had learned new facts about depression and suicide at the event.
o 100% indicated that they understand the connection between depression and suicide.
o 86% indicated they know how to reach out to a friend who is depressed.
INAL has targeted outreach to students in high school. It is our belief that education and awareness provides ripples into our community. These students go home to their families, informed and prepared to recognize warning signs and symptoms or depression and suicide. They are also empowered to intervene. By arming high school students, we are preparing them for the independence of college, where the risk of depression and suicide is significant.
In the coming year INAL plans to expand our mini-conferences to serve more students in our public schools, and to outreach to programs serving students in vocational and intervention programs in the county. INAL is planning to expand these events in the coming year. We will host two mini-conferences to be held at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center. Our goal is to serve 200 students at each event. These events will use the successful model implemented in 2008, with two presenters and lunch provided on-site. The first 2009 Mini-Conference is scheduled for October 28, 2009.
If you would like more information, or are interested in bringing students to this event, please contact our Executive Director, Kathleen Wakefield at (757) 496-9775 or at kwakefield@ineedalighthouse.org.
