Teller County Suicide Awareness Symposium
The first annual symposium was held January 2023
in Woodland Park
Participants increased their understanding of suicide, its prevalence and the risk factors for specific populations, and acquired tools for prevention, assessment and intervention.
Videos
Film 1: “Under the Wire” created by Madison Legg (Cheyenne Mountain High School) at the age of 16. Mady was adopted from Cambodia when she was 16 months old. When her brother, Jacob, also an adoptee (from Guatemala), attempted suicide, Mady began investigating the issue. She uncovered an epidemic of attempts and completed suicides by teenagers in the area. She decided to make a highly personal film exploring the emotional dynamics of her brother’s story. Won an Emmy from the Heartland chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the Children/Youth/Teen Program/Special category.
Film 2: “Surviving” created by Sorin Santos (Manitou Springs High School) to tell his story of his childhood which consisted of several illnesses that resulted in heart and brain surgery all before the age of 10. The trauma of these events led to debilitating depression and anxiety in high school, including forced admission to a psychiatric hospital. Sorin’s film intimately recounts these events while revealing his own personal battle to fight against mental illness
2023 Presentations
Flipping the Script
Eli Varney, LPC MA
How to Start the Conversation
Cass Walton, Executive Director, PPSP
Veterans Suicide Prevention Program
In Our Own Voice
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Zero Suicide Project
Robin Schawe, LPC, LAC
Postvention, Loss, and Grief
Annie Durham, Suicide Loss Survivor, CCVSD
Emotional Resilience
Lynn Shull, Certified Professional Coach
Dr. Ann Rush, Co-Founder of Sc4i
Suicide Awareness Symposium Planning Committee Members
Janet Stoddard
Dedicated Community Member
Ashlee Shields
Suicide Prevention Project Coordinator
Community Health Partnership
Kathy Sparnins
Executive Director-Voices of Grief
Roberta Renfro
Manager of Community Relations and Outreach-Diversus Health
Annie Durham
Suicide Loss Survivor & CTE Director-CCVSD
Eli Varney
LPC-The Family Care Center
Michelle Wolff
Director-Teller County Department of Public Health and Environment
Dr. Ann Rush
Co-Founder and Development Director-Status Code 4 Inc.
Megan Billesbach
Community Liaison-Colorado Community Health Alliance
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Partners
Supporters
About the Mental Health Alliance
The Teller County Mental Health Alliance (The Alliance) is a multi-organization collaborative supporting the mental health needs of the community.
The Alliance began in 2018 as a grassroots effort in response to growing community concerns about mental and behavioral health in the community.
By pooling individual resources and establishing a shared agenda, The Alliance orchestrates a coordinated set of actions to foster a resilient and healthy community.
We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to TCMHA with non-emergency comments or questions.