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5th Annual Appalachia Ohio Suicide Prevention Conference - Cambridge, OH
5th Annual Appalachia Ohio Suicide Prevention Conference - Cambridge, OH
From Country Roads to Conference Rooms: Rooted in Culture: United in Prevention
From Country Roads to Conference Rooms: Rooted in Culture: United in Prevention
2025 Conference Highlights – Speakers & Voices
2025 Conference Highlights – Speakers & Voices
The 2025 conference brought together regional leaders, professionals, and community voices to advance suicide prevention across Appalachian Ohio—grounded in one powerful theme:
The word of the day was EMPATHY.
From keynote reflections to youth-led conversations, the day emphasized connection, understanding, and the importance of how we talk about mental health and suicide.
Featured Speakers:
Opening Remarks & Spoken Word – Honey Bell-Bey, Poet Laureate & MC
Youth Suicide Prevention – Dr. John Ackerman, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Higher Education & Workforce in Appalachia – Dr. Matthew J. Smith, Dean, OSU Newark
Youth Panel – High school & college students with counselors
Keynote Reflections – Former Governor Ted Strickland
Older Adult Suicide & Loss – Sandy Williams, President of Jerry’s Walk
Rural Appalachian Veterans, Suicide & Spirituality – Dr. Greenlee
A big thank you to our speakers, vendors, and participants who are making a difference in Appalachian Ohio.
This conference not only brought together experts in suicide prevention, but also teenagers working to break the stigma around mental health awareness.
Mental health matters—let’s talk about it.
Watch the Reel Life Side Ohio put together for us: 2025 Highlight Reel
Dr. John Ackerman
Dr. John Ackerman
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among younger children ages 10-14 years.
Dr. Ackerman with @nationwidekids talks about how talking openly about suicide can help prevent it.
Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
Empathy, my friends.
“People need to feel valued. People need to feel understood.” - Former Governor of Ohio Ted Strickland.
Gov. Strickland grew up in Appalachian Ohio. He said a huge challenge here is having enough mental health professionals in Appalachian counties.
He is on the governing board of @app_children which works to strengthen and fill the behavioral health jobs in Appalachian Ohio.
Dr. Matt Smith
Dr. Matt Smith
Human connection, the art of listening, and being BOLD to talk about suicide.
Dean of OSU Newark, Dr. Smith worked the crowd and opened the conversation engaging our attendees at the conference.
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