Virginia Chapter Annual Board Retreat
Charlottesville, VA | February 10, 2024
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Last weekend, our Virginia Chapter Board Members came together in Charlottesville to celebrate our successes, evaluate our progress, and map out our plans for the next year. Pictured left to right are:
Front Row: Emily Bacalis (Special Events Manager), Dr. Cassie Glenn (Board President), Katherine Martinez (Board Member), Ronald North, Jr. (Board Member)
Middle Row: Shirley Ramsey (Chapter Founder), Kathe Goller (Executive Director), Winter Brooks (Board Chair), Shannon Sullivan (Board Secretary), Carl Trost (Board Member), Joseph Cusimano (Board Member), Markita Madden (Programs Manager)
Back Row: Briddge (Board Member), Stephanie Schlesinger (Board Member), Kevin Long (Board Member), Matthew Austin (Board Vice Chair), Robert Noriega (Board Member), Sean Higdon (Board Treasurer), Scott Stevens (Board Member).
We spent the morning learning about updates from AFSP's national Chapter Leadership Conference, being introduced to the Six Thinking Hats concept of lateral thinking, and hearing about upcoming chapter events and initiatives. Then, we took time in the afternoon to collaborate on our business plan and budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
We are eager to see our plans come to life, and we hope you will be a part of them!
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Advocacy Corner
House Bill 224
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Urge your Virginia State Senator to Support Passage of HB 224
Rates of psychological distress among youth, including symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions, have increased, as have the number of young people visiting the emergency department for mental health emergencies and suspected suicide attempts. In 2021, suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death for Virginia’s youth and young adults ages 10-24; that year, we lost 208 young people in that age group to suicide.
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Existing law requires all full-time teachers and other relevant personnel, as determined by the school board, to complete a mental health awareness training at least once. HB 224 would amend existing law by specifying that said training must address the needs of youth populations that are at a high risk of experiencing mental health challenges and conditions, including youth who are: (1) bereaved by suicide; (2) have mental or physical disabilities or chronic health conditions, including substance use disorders; (3) are experiencing homelessness or housing instability; (4) are in foster care or other situations that may result in instability in a youth's custodial or living situation; or (5) identify as LGBTQ+.
- A recent survey of LGBTQ youth found that, in the year prior, 43% of LGBTQ youth in Virginia seriously considered suicide and nearly 1 in 8 (13%) attempted suicide.
- Schools have a role to play in addressing and supporting student mental health and many young people rely on schools for acceptance and reassurance – in Virginia, more LGTBQ youth recognize school as an LGBTQ-affirming space (44%) than they do their own home (38%).
- Initiatives that reduce stigma around mental health and suicide and create more transparency increase the likelihood that students will connect with the services they need.
AFSP-Virginia is also supporting this issue as part of our recent State Capitol Day event. For more information and to learn more about our chapter's 2024 State Capitol Day Legislative Priorities, click here.
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At Work In Our Community
L.E.T.S. Save Lives
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After participating in the pilot launch of AFSP's new L.E.T.S. Save Lives program, the Virginia Chapter is excited to officially roll out this important tool for Black and African American communities.
L.E.T.S. Save Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention for Black and African American Communities is a presentation created by and for Black people, designed to reduce cultural stigma, foster conversations about mental health, and raise awareness of suicide prevention for individuals who identify as Black or African American. The program is grounded in research and delivered by trained presenters from the Black and African American communities.
Participants will:
- Learn the scope of suicide among the Black and African American population
- Understand the racial and systemic factors that impact suicide in the Black and African American communities
- Identify suicide risk and protective factors for Black and African American communities
- Recognize warning signs of suicide
- Gain confidence in talking to someone in suicidal distress
- Learn how to connect someone with help
Participants will receive education on mental health and suicide prevention through activity-based learning, and take-home materials to use if needed in the future. The goal of this new program is to create conversations in Black communities around mental health and encourage help-seeking to prevent suicide and suicide attempts.
AFSP is committed to the equitable practice of ensuring programs are developed by the communities in which to serve. Therefore, this program was created by an Advisory Committee of experts in Black and African American mental health and suicide prevention, researchers, clinicians, survivors of suicide loss as well as those with lived experience. The visual design was developed in partnership with Joy Collective, a Black and woman-owned cultural marketing agency.
Join us for a virtual presentation on February 24th, or contact Markita Madden, Virginia Programs Manager, at mmadden@afsp.org to bring this program to your community.
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Walk with Us!
2024 events are now open for registration.
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2024 Virginia Chapter Campus Walks
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Christopher Newport University afsp.org/cnu - website coming soon Details coming soon!
College of William & Mary afsp.org/wm 4/20/24, William & Mary Campus
James Madison University afsp.org/jmu 4/7/24 Festival Lawn & 5K Route
Liberty University afsp.org/liberty 4/20/24 Liberty University Campus
Longwood University afsp.org/longwood 4/6/24 Upchurch University Center
Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences afsp.org/murphydeming 3/11/24, Murphy Deming Campus
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Old Dominion University afsp.org/odu 3/16/24, Old Dominion University Campus
Radford University afsp.org/radfordu 4/13/24, Radford University Campus
Shenandoah University afsp.org/su 4/20/24, Shenandoah University Campus
University of Virginia afsp.org/uva - website coming soon 4/14/24, University of Virginia Campus
Virginia Commonwealth University afsp.org/vcu 4/13/24, Monroe Park
Virginia Tech afsp.org/vt 4/14/24, The Drillfield
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2024 Virginia Chapter Community Walks
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Bristol VA afsp.org/bristolva 10/26/24, Cumberland Square Park
Charles City afsp.org/charlescity - coming soon 10/5/24, Charles City High School
Danville - South Central afsp.org/danville - coming soon 11/9/24, Ballou Park
Farmville afsp.org/farmvilleva 11/9/24, Historic Farmville Train Station
Galax afsp.org/galax 11/2/24, Felt's Park
Greater Fredericksburg afsp.org/fredericksburg 10/19/24, John Lee Pratt Park
Grtr. Shen. Valley C-Ville afsp.org/gsv - coming soon 10/19/24, Gypsy Hill Park (Staunton)
Lynchburg afsp.org/lynchburg 10/5/24, Peaks View Park
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities
We hope you'll join us!
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L.E.T.S. Saves Lives (Virtual)
Sat., Feb. 24th 10:00AM - 11:30AM Register Here
L.E.T.S. (listening, empathy, trust, support) Save Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention for the Black Community is a presentation that covers what we know about mental health and suicide, the most up-to-date research on prevention, and what we can all do to help save lives.
Please register at least 30 minutes in advance to receive log-in information.
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Research Connection (Virtual)
Thursday, February 29th 5:30PM - 7:00PM Register Here
Addressing the Crisis of Suicide among Black Men: Real-Time Strategies and Future Directions
Leslie Adams, Ph.D., MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Presented by AFSP Indiana. Free, registration required.
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This virtual Research Connection will discuss the need for research to predict risk and prevent suicide among Black men, who have experienced an increase in suicide-related mortality in the past decade. Dr. Leslie Adams will introduce her recent AFSP Young Investigators Award project that aims to integrate digital health strategies using smartphones to identify suicide risk in real-time among Black men. The talk will cover the feasibility and acceptability of smartphone-based approaches to support future suicide prevention efforts with Black men.
Research Connection programs provide a unique opportunity for AFSP-funded researchers to share their work with communities following publication of findings.
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Get to Know Us: A Volunteer Introduction to AFSP Virginia (Online)
Monday, March 18th 7:00PM - 8:00PM Register Here
Get to Know Us: A Volunteer Introduction is an opportunity to discover the Virginia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, learn about its mission, and explore which volunteer roles you would enjoy. Register below to join us for this casual introductory conversation.
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Talk Saves Lives (Virtual)
Thursday, March 21st 6:00PM - 7:00PM Register Here
Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention is a community-based presentation that covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight suicide. Participants will learn common risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide, and how to keep themselves and others safe.
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Talk Saves Lives LGBTQ (Virtual)
Wednesday, April 3rd 12:00PM - 1:00PM Register Here
Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to LGBTQ Suicide Prevention is a community-based presentation that covers what we know about this leading cause of death, the most up-to-date research on prevention, and what we can all do to fight suicide.
Please register at least 30 minutes in advance to receive log-in information.
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Participants will learn about:
- Suicide risk and its unique considerations for LGBTQ people
- Recognizing suicide risk factors and warning signs for LGBTQ people
- Protective factors that can help lower the suicide rate
- The latest research related to LGBTQ suicide prevention
- How to seek and offer support for yourself or others
- Crisis resources and services for the LGBTQ community
- What communities can do to support LGBTQ people
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AFSP Virginia Chapter PO Box 333 Midlothian, VA 23113
AFSP Virginia Chapter Board
Chair: Winter Brooks (Stephens City) Vice Chair: Matthew Austin (Moseley) President: Dr. Cassie Glenn (Virginia Beach) Treasurer: Sean Higdon (Winchester) Secretary: Shannon Sullivan (Ruther Glen)
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Briddge (Virginia Beach) Joe Cusimano, PharmD, BCPP (Winchester) Lorrie Eanes (Danville) Kevin Long (Bridgewater) Katherine Martinez (Virginia)
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Robert Noriega (Richmond) Ronald North, Jr. (Waynesboro) Shirley Ramsey (Glen Allen)
Stephanie Schlesinger (Richmond) Scott Stevens (Christiansburg) Carl Trost (Staunton)
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AFSP Virginia Programs Manager
Markita Madden mmadden@afsp.org
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AFSP Virginia Special Events Manager
Emily Bacalis ebacalis@afsp.org
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AFSP Virginia Executive Director
Kathe Goller, CVA kgoller@afsp.org
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American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
199 Water Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10038
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