McHenry County Mental Health Board, in collaboration with the McHenry County Suicide Prevention Task Force is hosting the 7th Annual Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Recovery Conference on Friday, Sept. 8th from 9 am to 3 pm at McHenry County College.
Keynote Speaker is Chelsea Laliberte Barnes who will present “Go Upstream Together: A Call for “Come Unity” in Driving Change”. Desmond Tutu is known for the concept of “Stop just pulling people out of the river, we must go upstream and find out why they are falling in.” Laliberte Barnes explains that advocating for change requires bravery, vulnerability, and the audacity to reimagine what is possible when we prioritize the power of the collective. If a Jewish social worker from Buffalo Grove can lead a harm reduction movement that has shifted the state’s drug crisis, what can the collective do with our forces combined?
Chelsea Laliberte Barnes is a powerful advocate for patients and families impacted by mental health, substance use, and overdose. Bills she has helped write and pass include the federal and state versions of Lali’s Law (named after Chelsea’s brother), the Heroin Crisis Act, and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016. She promotes compassion, justice, and resources by leading community coalitions on safety, public health, reducing overdose rates and drug-related harms. Appointed Member of Illinois Opioid Remediation Fund Advisory Board, Cofounder and Former Executive Director of Live4Lali, Cofounder and Board Chair of Lake County Opioid Initiative, Cofounder and Chair of Illinois Harm Reduction & Recovery Coalition, she has helped pass 25 state and federal laws.
The public is encouraged to attend this powerful conference to learn more about suicide prevention and mental health recovery. Breakout sessions offer local resources and programs. Exhibits will provide connections and information. The conference is free to all participants and includes a complimentary lunch. Registration is required in advance to reserve space for attendees.
After the keynote, three concurrent breakout sessions will be led by local and regional professionals. Topics include Surviving Trauma and Stress: The Mind-Body Connection, The Intersection of Neurodiversity and Mental Health, Youth Advocacy Movement, Reintegrating Offenders into the Community, Resiliency as it Relates to Alcohol Use Disorder, Importance of Peer Support and Community Connection in Early Recovery, Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention in both English and Spanish.
The conference is open to school staff, parents, first responders, public officials and faith communities at no charge. Advance registration is required. Evaluations and free CEUs are encouraged.