Mental health, education and community leaders will come together for a Regional Suicide Prevention Summit at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College to discuss ways to strengthen suicide prevention efforts across the state.
The event, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 23, from 10 a.m. to noon at SKCTC’s Knox Campus, will feature a panel of mental health experts and an open discussion about the state of mental health and suicide prevention in Kentucky. Organizers said the summit will emphasize regional needs and opportunities for collaboration among local organizations, educators and health care providers.
The summit is part of Kentucky’s broader effort to expand access to evidence-based suicide prevention training, including QPR — which stands for Question, Persuade, Refer. The online course, offered free to all Kentuckians through UK HealthCare’s Healthy Kentucky Initiative, teaches participants how to recognize the warning signs of suicide and connect people to help.
Suicide continues to be one of Kentucky’s most urgent public health concerns, particularly in rural communities. Officials said the summit aims to promote dialogue, build partnerships and encourage action to save lives through awareness, education and community connection.
Representatives from the University of Kentucky, UK HealthCare, SKCTC, local schools, health care providers and community organizations are expected to attend. Members of the public interested in suicide prevention are also invited.
The summit will be held in Room 134 at SKCTC’s Knox Campus, 117 Shelby Street, Barbourville. Parking is available in front of the building.
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