Vermont Suicide Prevention Symposium 2021

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2021 Speakers

Becky Stoll, LCSW

Becky Stoll serves as Vice President for Crisis and Disaster Management for Centerstone.

Heather White

Heather White Area Director AFSP Vermont Bio: After nearly losing her life to post-partum depression and suicide, Heather White dedicated...

Simone Arnold, MC, QMHP (they/them) Adult Outpatient Therapist LCMHS

Simone Arnold is currently employed as an adult outpatient therapist through Lamoille County Mental Health Services (LCMHS) in Vermont working...

Shelby Rowe, MBA (she/her)

Shelby Rowe is the program manager for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, an award-winning artist, mother of three sons and...

Caroline Mazel-Carlton, C.P.S. (she/her)

Caroline Mazel-Carlton is a suicide attempt survivor who, since moving out of a North Carolina psychiatric group home in 2009,...

Lisa Horowitz, PhD, MPH (she/her)

Dr. Lisa M. Horowitz is a Pediatric Psychologist/Staff Scientist at the National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program at...

Matthew MacNeil, M.A., M.Ed., Ed.D., LCMHC (he/him)

Matthew MacNeil is the Director of Evaluation and Co-Chair of the Staff Wellness Committee for Howard Center. He is a...

David Rettew, MD (he/him)

David Rettew, MD is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine....

Rachael Comeau, EdD (she/her)

Rachael Comeau is the former Assistant Director of the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program in the Department of Pediatrics at...

Alison Krompf, MA (she/her)

Alison received her BA in Psychology from Colgate University, a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and is currently...

JoEllen Tarallo, Ed.D., MCHES, (she/her)

Dr. JoEllen Tarallo is Executive Director of the Center for Health and Learning, a 501c3 that develops projects and resources,...

Cheryl Sharp, MSW, ALWS (she/her)

Cheryl S. Sharp, MSW, ALWF is CEO of Sharp Change Consulting, Inc. Prior to creating Sharp Change she created and...

Nina Gutin, Ph.D.

Nina Gutin, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center Bio: Nina J. Gutin, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist in...

Mercedes Avila, PhD (she/her)

Dr. Maria Mercedes Avila holds an appointment as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Larner College...

Caitlin Quinn, Master of Public Health (MPH) (she/her)

Caitlin Quinn is a public health analyst who works on suicide prevention epidemiology and surveillance at the Vermont Department of...

Kristy Hommel, M. Ed. ECE

Kristy Hommel, M. Ed. ECEYouth Outreach and Ending The Silence Program Coordinator NAMI Vermont Bio: Kristy Hommel currently works for...

Tracy Binet-Perrin, M. Ed (she/her)

Tracy Binet-Perrin, M. Ed serves as an elementary school counselor in a K-6 school in Brattleboro, VT, and has been...

Joseph Smith, US Army Veteran, Suicide Survivor

Joe Smith served for 6 1/2 years in the United States Army as an Infantryman deployed to serve in Operation...

Tom Delaney, PhD (he/him)

Dr. Delaney is based in the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program in the UVM Larner College of Medicine's Department of...

Cheryl Gagne, Sc.D.

Cheryl Gagne, Sc.D.Senior Associate C4 Innovations Bio: Cheryl Gagne is a senior associate at C4 Innovations. Her areas of interest...

Kelly Posner, PhD

Dr. Kelly Posner is a Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University and her work is saving lives all over the...

Terri Lavely, MS

Terri Lavely, MS AFSP VT Chapter board Bio: Terri Lavely MS, QMHP has been employed at Northeast Kingdom Human Services...

Susan Swindell, Licensed Psychologist–Master (she/her)

Sue Swindell is a Licensed Psychologist and has worked in community mental health for more than 30 years. She believes...

Tripti Sharma, MA LPC

Tripti Sharma, MA LPCSenior Trainer Partners for Children's Mental Health Bio: Tripti Sharma MA, LPC is a Senior Trainer at...

Sanchit Maruti, MD, MS (He/Him)

Dr. Maruti is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine. He is an Attending Inpatient Psychiatrist...

Jodi Girouard, B.A. in Education and English, PWLE (she/her)

I have a book entitled, Living with the Neighbors coming out as an ebook in August of 2021. It is...

Rebecca Bell, MD, MPH

Dr. Bell is a Pediatric Critical Care physician at the University of Vermont Children's Hospital and an Associate Professor of...

Maureen Monahan, PhD

Dr. Monahan is a Project Administrator at the Suicide Prevention– Training, Implementation & Evaluation (SP-TIE) Program at the Center for...

Steve Broer, Psy.D.

Steve Broer, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist & Director of Behavioral Health Services at Northwestern Counseling & Support Services.

Logan Hegg, PsyD (he/him)

Dr. Logan Hegg is a licensed clinical psychologist at The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, VT.

Annalisa MacDonald, LCMHC (she/her)

Annalisa MacDonald, LCMHC is the Assistant Director of the School Services Program for Howard Center.

Kurt Michael, BA, MS, PhD

Dr. Kurt Michael is the Stanley R. Aeschleman Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Appalachian State University.

Kheya Ganguly M.A.

Kheya Ganguly M.A.Director of Trauma Prevention and Resilience Development Vermont Department Of Mental Health Bio: Kheya Ganguly is currently the...

Mark Gebo, M.Ed. (he/him)

Mark Gebo is a School Counselor with the Bellows Falls Union High School and a Crisis Intervention Specialist (QMHP) with...

Amelia Franck Meyer, Ed.D, LISW (she/her)

Dr. Amelia Franck Meyer is the founder and CEO of the national non-profit, Alia: Innovations for people and systems impacted...

Victor Armstrong, MSW (he/him)

Victor Armstrong serves as Director of the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Substance Abuse Services, with responsibility and...

Stan Collins, NREMT (he/his)

Stan Collins has worked in the field of suicide prevention for over 20 years since losing a friend to suicide...

Ryan Price, MPA

Ryan Price, MPA Area Director American Foundation For Suicide Prevention Vermont Chapter Bio: Ryan is a nonprofit leader who has...

Yvette Bonilla, LMSW

Yvette Bonilla, LMSWOwner and CEO Suicide Care Consulting Services, LLC Bio: Yvette Bonilla, LMSW, is the Owner and CEO of...

Pre-Symposium Webinars

Pre-Symposium- Sustaining Yourself at Work

August 26, 2021

Current research supports that we, employees of systems and organizations, cannot produce desired outcomes for those we serve without a stable, engaged, and healthy workforce. As helping professionals, our wellbeing is affected; we oftentimes take care of others and forget to tend to our own needs in the process. This training will provide an understanding of how to sustain yourself in the work by providing key learnings and mindset shift.

Pre-Symposium- Suicide Deaths in Vermont, The Intersection of Mental Health Challenges, Lethal Means, and Biological Sex

August 26, 2021

This presentation will focus on the interaction of key factors seen in people who died by suicide, including the person’s history of mental health challenges, the lethal means used for suicide, and their biological sex.

2021 Introduction

Vermont Suicide Prevention Symposium: Introduction

August 22, 2021

Running Through The Fields Of Life To Reach One Another Presented By: Jodi Girouard, B.A. in Education and English, PWLE A five minute video on reaching out to help one another, giving hope, and reading the poem, Running through Fields. Suicide Prevention in Vermont: Retrospective and Look Forward Presented by: JoEllen Tarallo, Ed.D., MCHES, and Alison Krompf, MA

2021 Keynotes

Save the Indian, Save the Man- A Social Justice Perspective on Suicide Prevention

August 23, 2021

This presentation will intertwine music, art and humor to address the serious issues that have increased risk of suicide among American Indians & how embracing culture is key to reducing that risk.

Protective Factors in Suicide Prevention- Why It’s Important to Understand the Good Stuff

August 23, 2021

Presented by: David Rettew, MD This presentation will take a positive psychiatry perspective on suicide prevention and describe how qualities such as connectedness, optimism, and self-efficacy can help reduce suicidality. Presentation Summary: A great deal of suicide prevention work is appropriately focused on identifying and addressing risk factors such as depression and trauma. While these efforts are

Moving Forward Together, Connectivity is The Key

August 22, 2021

Presented by: Victor Armstrong, MSW Lessons learned from the COVID-19: The role of clinicians, policy makers, providers, advocates, and lived mental experience in moving us forward. Connection and intersectionality are the keys Presentation Summary: The coronavirus pandemic, in conjunction with the civil unrest experienced throughout 2020, left an indelible impression on our country. This has impacted

2021 Workshops

Suicide Risk Screening and Management of Patients Who Screen Positive, From Research to Practice

August 23, 2021

Healthcare providers can be partners in suicide prevention. This workshop will focus on screening and feasibly managing patients at risk for suicide without overtaxing medical settings.

Suicide Prevention Pathways- Schools, Mental Health and Social Supports

August 23, 2021

Presented by: JoEllen Tarallo, Ed.D., MCHES, Mark Gebo, M.Ed., Annalisa MacDonald, LCMHC, and Tracy Binet-Perrin, M. Ed. Discover the elements of a prevention prepared school community, and the steps taken at elementary and secondary schools in VT to promote mental health and respond to suicidality. Presentation Summary: As part of a comprehensive community approach to suicide prevention, every school is

Intentional Organizational Wellness

August 23, 2021

Presented by: Cheryl Sharp, MSW, ALWS, Susan Swindell, Licensed Psychologist–Master, and Matthew MacNeil, M.A., M.Ed., Ed.D., LCMHC Organization wellness does not happen in a vacuum. It takes effort, intention and planning. Find out how two Vermont organizations have made it part of their organization culture. Presentation Summary: Organizational and employee wellness in a trauma informed environment is essential.

Youth Powered Suicide Prevention

August 23, 2021

Presented by: Stan Collins, NREMT This presentation will describe the work of a Cultural Brokering program developed and implemented in Vermont to address behavioral health disparities in former refugee and immigrant communities. Presentation Summary: The goal of the Vermont Cultural Brokering program is to raise awareness about the mental health and substance use treatment, connect community

The Importance of Cultural Brokering Work to Address Behavioral Health Disparities

August 23, 2021

Presented by: Mercedes Avila, PhD This presentation will describe the work of a Cultural Brokering program developed and implemented in Vermont to address behavioral health disparities in former refugee and immigrant communities. Presentation Summary: The goal of the Vermont Cultural Brokering program is to raise awareness about the mental health and substance use treatment, connect community

Intentional self-poisoning in young people- Prevention, identification, treatment and referral in primary care and other settings

August 23, 2021

Presented by: Tom Delaney, PhD, Logan Hegg, PsyD, and Rachael Comeau, Ed.D Rates of intentional self-poisoning, a common form of self-harm in young people, have increased substantially in recent years in Vermont and nationally. In Vermont, between late 2020 and early 2021 the incidence of intentional self-poisoning has increased even more rapidly, possibly due to impacts of