KEYNOTE ADDRESSES

Keynote Address: The Clock is TikToking:  The Urgent Need to Understand Social Media and Teen Suicide Risk

Jessica L. Hamilton, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University

The goal of this presentation is to provide knowledge about the current state of the science of teen’s social media use and suicide risk, with emphasis on its potential risks and benefits.  Clinical considerations and evidence-based strategies for addressing adolescents’ social media use in clinical practice will be discussed.

At the completion of this session, participants should be able to:

1.   Define important domains of social media use to consider in teens’ mental health

2.   Discuss the risks and benefits of social media related to adolescents’ suicidality

3.   Identify evidence-based strategies for addressing social media use with teens to promote

mental health

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Keynote Address: How Individuals in Crisis Process Information:  Implications for Educators

Mary Margaret Kerr, EdD

Professor of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh

Whether communicating by phone, in person, or via email, educators benefit from understanding how people process information during a crisis.  This keynote draws on established best practices for communications during a crisis.  To apply these principles, participants will analyze how communications become emotionally charged and lead to heightened alarm and anger.  When these interactions escalate, they have the potential to damage relationships, sometimes permanently, with educators as well as the school system.  The session also offers practical, time-saving strategies and templates that school personnel can adopt to facilitate better communications during uncertain times. 

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1.  Describe how the escalation cycle hinders crisis communication

2.  Describe strategies to de-escalate tensions at each stage of the cycle

3.  Find evidence-based resources to support crisis communications

SKILL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
Please note that participants will select two workshops – one from Group 1 and one from Group 2. 

GROUP #1 - 12:45 – 2:00 p.m. (SELECT ONE WORKSHOP FROM GROUP #1)

1. Workshop Title:  Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in On-line Spaces

• Candice Biernesser, PhD, LCSW

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh

• César G. Escobar-Viera, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh

While social media can afford LGBTQ+ youth access to social connections, a sense of community, and social support, it can also give way to experiences of discrimination and victimization.  This workshop will offer practical guidance for supporting the needs of and responding to victimization of LGBTQ+ adolescents in online spaces.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Understand current research examining both protective and risk factors for LGBTQ+ youth mental health on social media and other online spaces
2. Gain perspective on protective and risk factors experienced online by LGBTQ+ youth
3. Identify strategies and resources for fostering a healthy and developmentally appropriate use of online spaces among LGBTQ+ youth

2. Workshop Title:  How to Find the Best Resources on School Safety Quickly:  A Guided Tour for School Crisis Teams

• Audrey Bowser, Doctoral Candidate

University of Pittsburgh

Those working in schools do not have time to research school safety.  Consequently, overworked school staff often get stuck designing procedures and training sessions.  This workshop offers a guided tour of best school safety resources, including free tabletop exercises, emergency operations plans, reunification, plans and supplies, and much more.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Quickly find excellent school crisis training exercises
2. Quickly find resources for reassuring students and staff after a crisis
3. Quickly find resources for responding to a crisis including family reunification

3. Workshop Title:  Fidelity with Flexibility:  Facilitating Effective and Engaging Group Therapy for Adolescents and Young Adults      

• Dominique Dove, MS, LPC

Research Principal, STAR-Center

• Mackenzie Osborn, MSCP

Behavioral Health Therapist I, STAR-Center

This interactive workshop will overview and demonstrate best practices for delivering group therapy to anxious, depressed, or suicidal adolescents and young adults.  Learn how to make skills-based therapy groups more engaging and effective while watching seasoned facilitators teach CBT and DBT skills – just like they would in a group setting.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Describe the characteristics that it is important to embody when working with groups of adolescents and young adults
2. Identify concrete ways to bring CBT and DBT skills to life in a group setting
3. Plan and structure an effective group session for adolescents and young adults

4. Workshop Title:  School-Based Behavioral Threat Assessment and Suicide Screening:  Missteps and Solutions

• Melissa M. Nelson, Ed.D.

K12 School Safety and Security Subject Matter Expert

Southwestern PA Threat Assessment Hub

RSM: Risk and Strategic Management Corporation

Understanding the interconnectedness of targeted violence and suicide is essential for developing school-based supports for students in crisis.  Dr. Nelson will provide an overview of the relationship between targeted violence and suicide and share evidence-based tools for use while conducting threat assessments and suicide screens.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. 1. Explain the importance of understanding and interpreting K12 children and adolescent behavioral health issues which indicate warning signs and risk factors for violence and suicide
   2. Apply the use of evidence-based resources to develop Behavioral Threat Assessment and Suicide Screen systems in K12 settings
   3. Use evidence-based strategies to improve Behavioral Threat Assessment and Suicide Screen systems in K12 settings   

• E.  Workshop Title: “Livin’ la Vida Loca?”
• Claudia Melendez Ardiles, LPC, NBCC

Behavioral Therapist, Children’s Community Pediatrics - Wexford

Hispanic children in America suffer incredible social, family, financial and educational challenges that often lead to high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality.  Unfortunately, access to mental health care is mostly unattainable or very difficult to navigate.  Today we will attempt to understand and assist this population to prevent, treat or recover from severe mental health.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Describe challenges during the acculturation process for both immigrant parents and children that affect their mental health
2. Identify obstacles in accessing care for mental health problems locally and regionally
3. Learn how to transfer participants’ skills and strengths to the treatment of special populations.

F.  Workshop Title:  Case Study in the Treatment of Trauma and Suicidality

• Teri Pentz, LPC, IMH-E®

Supervisor, Behavioral Health Training, Child and Adolescent Trauma Services

UPMC Western Behavioral Health

• Rachel Ludwig, LCSW

Behavioral Health Therapist III, Child and Adolescent Trauma Services

UPMC Western Behavioral Health

Utilizing a case presentation format, this workshop will provide participants with a highly interactive training on how to provide clinical treatment to an adolescent exhibiting post-traumatic behaviors and suicidality.  Discussion will include the impact of trauma on suicidal ideation and the importance of treating trauma symptoms while stabilizing suicidal behaviors.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Interpret current clinical symptoms within the context of prior traumatic experiences
2. Describe best practices for the assessment of traumatic experiences in suicidal youth
3. Begin to develop treatment goals and interventions that appreciate the influence of early traumatic experiences on current suicidal ideation

GROUP #2 - 2:15-3:30 p.m. (SELECT 1 WORKSHOP FROM GROUP #2)

G.  Workshop Title:  Engaging Hard-to-Reach Parents and Guardians Through Effective Communications

• Mary Margaret Kerr, Ed.D.

Professor of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh

In this workshop, we will examine specific do’s and don’ts for communicating effectively with families who are angry, worried, or non-responsive.  First, we will look at case studies that depict these problem communications.  Then we will examine what’s behind these reactions and how we can more effectively communicate.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Analyze real conversations to detect underlying needs of the family
2. Identify more effective strategies for communicating with families
3. Reduce confrontations with families

H.  Workshop Title:  Adolescent and Young Adult Substance Use Disorders, Serious Mental Illness, and Suicide   Risk

• Duncan B. Clark, MD, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

This workshop will review and discuss the assessment and treatment options for substance use disorders in adolescents and young adults in the context of comorbid serious mental illness and suicide risk.  Behavioral and pharmacological interventions will be considered with a particular focus on common dilemmas in challenging clinical circumstances.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Clinically assess overlapping risk factors for substance use and suicide risk
2. Discuss approaches for distinguishing between serious mental illness symptoms and substance use effects
3. Outline intervention options, including behavioral interventions, level of care options, and pharmacological treatments

I.  Workshop Title: “You Don’t Snooze, You Lose!”  Tools for Adolescent Sleep Health

• Kelsey Bero, LPC, NCC

Behavioral Health Therapist III, STAR-Center

• Karla Joyce, LCSW

Research Operations Coordinator, STAR-Center Research

This workshop will provide information regarding adolescent sleep health and introduce strategies based on Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TransS-C) that can be implemented for youth experiencing sleep difficulties.  Attendees will be introduced to specific tools and strategies for enhancing motivation and implementing change for adolescents’ sleep health.

At the completion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Explain the etiology of sleep and circadian rhythm in adolescents
2. Describe specific tools for addressing common adolescent sleep concerns
3. Implement basic sleep health strategies for improving mental health and overall wellness

J.  Workshop Title:  Preventing Targeted Violence:  Evolving Threats and Evolving Solutions

• Eric R. Patterson, MAPP

Special Agent, Threat Management Coordinator – FBI

FBI - Philadelphia Field Office

Adjunct Professor, Penn State University

• Melissa M. Nelson, Ed.D.

K12 School Safety and Security Subject Matter Expert

Southwestern PA Threat Assessment Hub

RSM: Risk and Strategic Management Corporation

This workshop will focus on the evolving threats and evolving solutions for preventing targeted violence.  Attendees will learn about the FBI’s Community Anti-Threats Officer (CATO) Program, the FBI’s Community Anti-Threat Team (CATT) Program, the role of multi-disciplinary Threat Assessment Threat Management (TATM) Teams, and positive psychology’s role in TATM.

At the completion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Discuss the evolving threats of targeted violence in today’s threat landscape
2. Discuss evolving solutions for preventing targeted violence through the FBI’s CATO Program, the FBI’s CATT Program, and the benefits of working threats cases through operational multi-disciplinary TATM Teams
3. Discuss the role of the field of positive psychology in TATM 

K.  Workshop Title:  Parent Peer Support

• Maria Silva, Chief Operating Officer

Allegheny Family Network

This is an interactive presentation and discussion regarding Parent Peer Support Partners as a critical part of the mental healthcare team.  This presentation will highlight how adding a Parent Peer Support Partner will improve parent engagement and outcomes.  Hear how Parent Peer Support Partners share their lived experience and skills to build trust, improving engagement and follow through, and teach appropriate self-advocacy skills.