The Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Network (LASPN) hosted its 16th annual summit this month. This year’s theme, “Power in Community: The Strength We Share” highlighted how community helps prevent suicide.

This year’s summit took place across two days at the California Endowment on September 8 and Pasadena City College on September 18. The first event focused on how clinicians can treat and prevent suicidal ideation and taking one’s own life. It featured Amanda Rowan, Founder and CEO, Therapist Development Center; Michael Vinton, President and Co-founder, Survivors of Murder-Suicide; and more.

The second day focused on community education and featured Barak Bomani, Co-creator and Executive Director, Unearth & Empower Communities; Laura Tully, Ph.D., Vice President of Partnerships & Integrations, Kooth Digital Health; and more. LASPN also hosted its annual award ceremony on September 2 at the Department’s headquarters to recognize leaders in suicide prevention. This year’s award recipients were:

  • Didi Hirsch Mental Health Center Wildfire Recovery Program — Dr. Sam Chan and Dr. James Cunningham Award for Outstanding Leadership.
  • Bridget McCarthy, Advocacy Chair, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — Sam and Lois Bloom Hero Award for Outstanding Advocacy to honor those who have advocated for a specific group or community, including attempt or loss survivors, youth, communities of color, LGBTQI groups, the disabled community or others with diverse and unique needs.
  • Mina Longo, Teen Line volunteer/advisor — Dr. Elaine Leader Hero Award for Outstanding Youth to recognize a young person, council or youth organization that is advocating, providing outreach and/or facilitating educational opportunities to enhance suicide prevention efforts.
  • A Fighting Chance — LASPN Innovation Award to acknowledge an individual who has implemented new and innovative prevention strategies that are technology-driven, target inequities in communities, address emerging issues, foster previously unused methods of communication and more.
  • South Central Wellness Collaborative — LASPN Collaboration Award to honor an individual or organization that prioritizes effective relationships and collaborations across disciplines to tackle difficult issues related to mental health and suicide prevention.

For more information about LASPN’s programs and resources, visit lasuicidepreventionnetwork.org.