​NASCOD and the International Council for Helplines have made the difficult decision to cancel the CrisisCon20 virtual event that was planned for October 22-23, 2020. We recognize that this annual conference is cherished by many in the crisis organization world and that now, perhaps more than ever, gathering with national colleagues, strengthening our connections, and supporting each other is essential. Therefore, we are planning to re-purpose NASCOD’s November Peerinar call in order to present a CrisisCon20  Roundtable event, co-hosted by NASCOD and the International Council for Helplines.
 
We hope you can all join us on November 10, 2020 for a lively roundtable discussion. This event will be free and there is no need to register. Details will follow with info on the Roundtable content and process as well as a GoToMeeting link to join the call – we hope you will! The event will be held on:
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CrisisCon20 Roundtable Event
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
1-3pm EST; 12-2pm CST; 10am-12pm PST
 
Meanwhile, for those of you have already registered for CrisisCon20, we really appreciate your support and will be in contact soon with refunds.

​ Crisis services organizations are always adjusting, innovating, and changing.
 It is what we do.
 In a year that has demanded change and reinvention from the entire world, let’s lead the way in truly Transforming the Landscape.
 Join us to connect, sustain, learn, and provide hope.
CrisisCon20 will be a virtual experience held Oct 22 & 23, 2020. Visit www.CrisisCon.org for updates.

CONTACT USA and NASCOD are pleased to announce CrisisCon will be a virtual experience in 2020.  Holding CrisisCon as a virtual event this year will ensure we are able to safely convene leaders of the field from around the country for another great conference.

Details on the new virtual conference experience will be announced this summer.

Copies of presentations will be posted to the Program section of crisiscon.org following the conference.  Check back for updates after 10/19/19.

CrisisCon19 is pleased and extremely honored to announce SAMHSA leadership’s participation in the upcoming National Crisis Center Conference in Salt Lake City.  Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use Elinore McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D., will give the conference keynote address, covering key national data on suicide prevalence and trends. She will discuss national strategies to advance suicide prevention efforts, including the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act and the development and implementation of comprehensive crisis systems. Dr. McCance-Katz’s presentation is part of a morning plenary that is giving crisis centers the first public opportunity to hear and discuss the recent FCC recommendation for a three digit nation suicide hotline.
 
Please visit www.crisiscon.org for more information regarding the program and registration.

The program for CrisisCon19 has been posted.  Visit the Program section of our web site to learn more about the great sessions we have planned.  Don't miss out.  Register today!

Featured Plenary Speakers Include:

• Richard McKeon – Chief, Suicide Prevention Branch, SAMHSA
• Doug Thomas – Director, Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
• John Draper – Director, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Programming Includes:

• The Suicide Hotline Improvement Act
• Peer support and crisis intervention
• Leveraging family systems in crisis support
• Bridging connections to community supports
• Enhancing care for veterans in crisis
• Serving the LGBTQ+ community
• Telephonic interventions for survivors of sexual assault
• Battling gambling addiction
• First responder partnerships
• Addressing coercive interventions
• Putting Zero Suicide concepts into action
• Sustainability and funding
• Data and quality

CrisisCon19 is proud to announce the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline/Vibrant as a platinum sponsor of CrisisCon19!  

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a leader in suicide prevention and mental health crisis care. Since its inception, the Lifeline has engaged in a variety of initiatives to improve crisis services and advance suicide prevention for all, including innovative public messaging, best practices in mental health, and groundbreaking partnerships.
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Vibrant Emotional Health launched the Lifeline on January 1, 2005. Vibrant Emotional Health, the administrator of the grant, works with its partners, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), National Council for Behavioral Health, and others, to manage the project, along with Living Works, Inc., an internationally respected organization specializing in suicide intervention skills training.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is independently evaluated by a federally-funded investigation team from Columbia University’s Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene. The Lifeline receives ongoing consultation and guidance from national suicide prevention experts, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders through the Lifeline’s Steering Committee, Consumer/Survivor Committee, and Standards, Training and Practices Committee.

We are proud to announce Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH)   as the Premier Sponsor of CrisisCon19!

The Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) was created as Utah’s substance abuse and mental health authority by Utah statute §62A-15-103. We oversee the publicly funded prevention and treatment system. If you, a friend, or family member is living with a mental health illness or a problem with alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, there is help available.

CrisisCon19 is scheduled for October 16th through the 19th. For some of you this may be your first time to Salt Lake City. I can tell you that I was really surprised by the variety of venues available...no matter what you are looking for...museums, architecture, theater, live performances, craft beer, escape rooms, did I mention food...it's all here. There is enough that a single tip guide does not cover it. Look for new information on the Salt Lake City at a  Glance blog. I will be updating it routinely. The first thing I wanted to focus on though is the public transit. It is remarkable. The Utah Department of Transportation Transit System (UTA) is fantastic and runs right in front of the Radisson Salt Lake City Downtown with a stop within a block. The best part about it though is that you can catch it to and from the airport and it goes all over downtown. I encourage you to go to the YouTube video at              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2yyUy-PlV4 to see it in action. In a nutshell the TRAXUTAH's light rail system has three lines (Red, Blue and Green). The Green Line takes you to and from the airport. You can go to rideuta.com for schedules or to use the trip planner if you have a specific address. Tickets can be bought at the individual stops. You can purchase one way, roundtrip or day passes. A one way trip is $2.50, roundtrip is $5.00 and a day pass is $6.25. There is also a free fare section of downtown. An announcement of when the last stop for the free fare section is made so there are no surprises. The TRAX runs from 5:00 am until midnight seven days a week, every 15 to 20 minutes. For those interested in a mobile ticketing app you can go to  uta.goride.
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If you are more of a Lyft or Uber fan it is active all over and available 24/7. Many venues are within walking distance and I will be focusing on those in my next blog entries. Museums, Temples and brewery's, oh my!