Series hosted October 2024 - February 2025

The prevalence of behavioral health concerns among teens in the U.S. has reached alarming levels. Studies show that one in five adolescents experiences a mental health disorder. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among teens, and research has documented a surge in symptoms of anxiety and depression, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic (Jones et al., 2022; Smith & Keller, 2021). Despite the growing need for care, access to traditional mental health services remains limited. The Unlocking Digital Pathways to Improving Adolescent Mental Health webinar series will explore how digital innovations can directly address these issues and empower parents to implement evidence-based strategies at home that target their teens’ problems.

November 8th, 2023

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common and costly behavioral health conditions worldwide, with most impacted youth experiencing some degree of difficulty into adolescence and adulthood. In order for providers to most effectively support adolescents with ADHD, knowledge about evidence-based practice (EBP) goals and strategies to address core ADHD deficits and related impairments is warranted. This 1-hour workshop will include an overview of select EBP strategies for adolescents with ADHD (including psychoeducation on adult-teen interaction styles, Organizational Skills Training, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and self-care strategies), as well as resources for each strategy presented. Next, the Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (ABC) model, as well as behavior support plans aligned with the ABC model, will be introduced. Finally, we will discuss how to integrate key concepts from the workshop into existing treatment plans for optimal engagement and outcomes when working with adolescents impacted by ADHD and comorbid disorders. Throughout the workshop, methods for incorporating digital health advancements and culturally-attuned approaches will be emphasized.

Co-Sponsor

Featuring

October 11th, 2023

Youth are often not centered in our understanding and use of existing engagement techniques; therefore, the strategies do not utilize the help-seeking preferences of Black youth. Clinicians will reflect on their mental health engagement techniques and learn to understand, center, and utilize the generational, cultural, and systemic preferences of Black youth.

Learning Objectives

By the conclusion of this event, participants will be able to:

Describe the state of mental health and mental health care for Black youth.

Understand how to navigate barriers and enhance facilitators to mental health engagement for Black youth.

Utilize strategies for engagement into mental health care that centers the needs and preferences of Black youth.

Co-Sponsor

Featuring

September 13th, 2023

This 1-hour workshop will present an overview of evidence-based practices for addressing adolescent substance abuse in outpatient clinical settings. In particular, the workshop will focus on family-based interventions that empower parents and other caregivers to take an active role in their young person’s care and address the parenting practices and family dynamics that often contribute to adolescent substance use. Participants will be given tools for delivering component clinical techniques targeting adolescents, parents, and the family system as a whole and ideas for how to sequence and integrate treatment components. Examples of techniques to be discussed include youth motivational enhancement, parenting skill development, and family communication exercises. Throughout, the workshop will emphasize how to engage and provide culturally-responsive care to a diverse array of families including marginalized and minoritized youth and families facing multiple stressors.

Co-Sponsor

Featuring

August 9th, 2023

The Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, in partnership with Casey Family Programs, spent two years listening to Native voices from across Indian Country and scanning Indigenous literature to gather tribally-driven, evidence- and practice-based solutions to prevent youth suicide. What we learned is cultural strengths are of vital importance to preventing suicide.

Prior to CULTURE FORWARD, most published literature and resources about American Indian/Alaska Native youth suicide tended to be problem- and deficit-based, missing essential understandings of Native communities’ capacity to promote unique cultural strengths and traditions to protect youth. CULTURE FORWARD was designed with a vision to flip the dominant narrative and elevate Indigenous knowledges, findings and resources that represent strengths- and culture-based approaches to prevent suicide and promote healthy Native youth development.

Co-Sponsor

Featuring

April 19, 2022

The workplace is a crucial setting in the nation’s collective suicide prevention strategy. Employers who promote mental health and wellness and prepare for swift and supportive intervention strategies, including when crises occur, will not only reduce the risk of suicide in the workplace, but can increase employee satisfaction, productivity, and ROI.
What is the ideal role of employers, managers and coworkers in suicide prevention? How can workplace culture best promote wellness, help seeking, and protect those at risk?
In this 60-minute event Colleen Carr, Director of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention at EDC, will speak with Michelle Tenzyk and Cal Beyer, two national experts on suicide prevention in the workplace to: Outline key crisis prevention, intervention, and postvention strategies, provide a “state of the union” of the current work accomplished and underway, discuss the individual challenges of seeking help, highlight how workplace culture can be changed to better promote wellness and protect those at risk, and orient attendees to the many resources available to support their change efforts.

Co-Sponsor

Featuring

February 24, 2022

Services delivered by individuals who have life experiences with health conditions in common with the people they serve offer unique opportunities to foster hope and facilitate change. Emerging data demonstrate not only improvement in health outcomes but also better service outcomes such as more successful transition to outpatient care after discharge from a hospital setting.
In this 60-minute panel discussion, we will share lessons learned from peer bridging in suicide care, supporting families and young people, and how technology-supported care may help peer bridgers, persons in suicide crises, and their supporters.

Featuring

November 18, 2021

How can you navigate the workforce shortages, staff burnout, and fiscal impacts of COVID, while also readying your system for a projected increased demand for crisis response as the 988 suicide prevention hotline rolls out nationwide? What is the ROI for timely and evidence-based suicide care? What are the financing strategies that support or inhibit this work?

Healthcare experts Karen Johnson, Michael Schoenbaum, and Mike Wilson will share their perspectives on these and other challenges facing healthcare leaders today. Join the discussion, moderated by Zero Suicide Institute Director Julie Goldstein Grumet and Jaspr Health CEO Kelly Koerner, and learn why and how to build the business case for sustained investment in suicide-specific care in 2022.

Co-Sponsor

Featuring

October 20, 2021

Facilitated by Jaspr Health CEO and suicide expert Kelly Koerner, PhD, we bring together three leading teen suicide experts in a fireside chat format to discuss teen suicide in America today, key elements of treatment for teens and their families, as well as emerging teen-specific treatment innovations that may further bolster our efforts to reduce death by suicide among teens and young adults.

Co-Sponsor

Featuring

October 7, 2021

What role should digital solutions play in providing safe, highly reliable suicide-specific care? Kelly Koerner, PhD, an expert in evidence-based prevention and treatment of suicidal behavior and technology, will summarize the scientific literature on existing commercial-ready technologies and discuss emerging applications, showcasing examples of those who have taken a science-first approach.

Featuring

August 11, 2021

Dr. Spirito will overview the role of substance use in adolescent suicidal behaviors. He will describe the core treatment techniques for suicidal adolescents that cut across evidence-based practices with the strongest data, including those that integrate substance use treatment strategies for suicidal adolescents and their parents/caregivers.

Co-Sponsor

Featuring

June 4, 2021

In this conversation, panelists will share their research and expert opinion on what is essential to make an effective coping plan with individuals at risk for suicide.

March 25, 2021

Join Susan Stefan, J.D., for a lively discussion on legal liability and the courage required to improve suicide crisis care. In this conversation, Susan will draw from her extensive legal scholarship and work as an expert witness and consultant to healthcare systems to address the most common concerns healthcare leaders, clinicians, and patient advocates face when implementing change.