Dr Barry C Black, the renowned 62nd chaplain of the US Senate, will this year be the special guest speaker for the 14th annual World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) seminar to be held next Friday (September 9) in Jamaica.

Black, who has been serving as chaplain since June 27, 2003, has distinguished himself in several areas including the US Navy. He holds three Master of Arts degrees in divinity, counselling and management, as well as a Doctor of Ministry and a PhD in Psychology. He is the first African-American and first Seventh-day Adventist to hold the office of chaplain.

Black’s address will be guided by the theme of this year’s seminar, dubbed, ‘Creating Hope Through Action: Let’s Save Another Life!’.

Dr Donovan Thomas—founder, and president of Choose Life International (CLI), organisers of the seminar—in making the announcement said, “this year’s webinar will be in the format of a hybrid set, where the presenters will be gathered in one place with a small audience, but the event will be streamed via Zoom.” 

“As the world continues to develop strategies to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, which is still with us, people are trying to find normalcy in an environment that has been irrevocably changed, and many are finding it difficult to cope. Some are even confronted with mental health issues such as depression. At CLI, we recognise that it is important to share a message of hope, especially with those who are at risk. That is our focus this year and we have invited a panel of distinguished professionals to provide meaningful information that we are confident many will find life-affirming,” Thomas added.

In addition to Dr Black’s presentation, the topics for this year’s event include:

• The epidemic within the pandemic
• Non-suicide self-injury among adolescents
• Legal & ethical perspectives in suicide prevention
• Trauma and suicidality in adolescents
• Managing the impact of completed suicide
• Homicide & suicide – What is the relationship?

Numbered among the presenters are Dr Erica Lam, clinical psychologist and trauma specialist; Dr Winston De La Haye, consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer in psychiatry at the University of the West Indies (UWI); consultant psychiatrist and clinical director at the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Dr George Leveridge; regional clinical psychologist in the Ministry of Health & Wellness Dr Pearnel Bell; as well as attorneys-at-law Jacqueline Samuels-Brown and Marjorie Shaw. Participating doctors, nurses, and psychologists will receive continuing education credit.

The seminar is supported by main sponsor Jamaica Broilers Group Limited, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Jamaica Institute of Financial Services (JIFS).