Noted social work administrator, lecturer, suicide prevention and trauma intervention veteran Dr Roger Ball, will be this year’s guest speaker at the 16th Annual World Suicide Prevention Day seminar on Tuesday, September 10 at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston and online.

The seminar will be presented by the not-for-profit organisation, Choose Life International under the theme, “Change the Narrative: Start the Conversation,” and features an impressive slate of experts providing valuable information on a wide range of topics.

According to seminar organizer, founder and president of Choose Life International, Dr Donovan Thomas, Dr Ball heads a team of presenters who bring to the seminar a wealth of experience from which participants will benefit. 

“Jamaica, like other territories, continues to be challenged as we seek to lessen the stigma surrounding mental health and take initiatives to increase awareness concerning the warning signs associated with suicide and how those affected can get the help and necessary support they need,” Dr Thomas said. “With rising economic and social challenges both globally and locally, as well as the increased stress and uncertainty brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic that continues to linger, there needs to be more focus on mental wellness and suicide prevention. We must literally ‘change the narrative’ if we are to achieve our goals.”

Seminar headliner, Dr Ball, who is also a Jamaican, has been serving children and families within New York City and beyond for over 20 years. He currently works within the New York City Public School system (NYCPS) as the Supervisor of Social Workers for the Borough of the Bronx within the Office of Safety and Youth Development. He has also taught in the Graduate School of Social Service at the prestigious Fordham University for the last 15 years.

Ball “is part of a city-wide crisis response leadership team that is mobilized to support communities during the death of students and personnel, including for suicide completions and death by violence.” His work includes “prevention, intervention and postvention for students, staff, parents, administration and faculty.” 

Dr Ball states, “The most effective suicide prevention and intervention strategies take place in the ordinary exchanges of life. People find reasons to live and to carry on within the context of caring family systems, social networks, school and faith communities and within the workplace. At the end of that continuum is clinical and professional intervention. Healing and recovery is the responsibility of all of those spaces that we all occupy in one way or another.” He will be speaking on the topic, “Change the Narrative on Suicide: A Trauma Informed Approach.”

Other presenters confirmed for the seminar include Grief and Trauma Therapist, Dr Grace Kelly; Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Peta-Gaye Reynolds (NERHA); Organisation Development Consultant, Dr Ijah Thompson; Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Pearnel Bell and Counseling Psychologist, Dr Faith Thomas.

Topics include:

• Global Trends in Suicidality: Seeking Answers With Emphasis on the Jamaican Landscape.
• Stigma Reduction and Mental Health and Suicidality: An Integrated Approach to Stigma Reduction.
• Promoting Organizational Wellness: Wellness Programmes.
• Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): A Thought Shifting Technique in Suicide Prevention.
• Forgiveness and Suicidality. 

There will also be a panel discussion on “Strategies and Policy Formulation – The Three Cs in Suicide Prevention: Connection, Collaboration and Choices.”

The Jamaica Broilers Group is the main sponsor for the WSPD seminar, which, is now open for registration. It will begin at 8:30 am and end at 3:30 pm on September 10. Those wishing to attend may register at https://iteneri.com/cli/. There is a ten per cent discount for groups of 10 persons or more and CE/CME credits are also available.