Conference Vision
To help equip fellow colleges/universities, School Districts, Community Health Organizations and the Faith-Based Community throughout the State of Florida to better address the issue of suicide prevention on their respective campuses. By better understanding the extent of the problem and potential prevention strategies colleges can help protect their students against suicide. Increased awareness of the risk factors, warning signs, protective factors and potential intervention methodologies concerning suicide prevention can support successful college 
life.
Overview
Deaths by suicide are the third leading cause of death in 15 to 24 year olds and the second leading cause of death among college students. Although there is a general acknowledgement that it is a major problem, many lack a specific suicide prevention initiative on their campuses or in their organizations. Fortunately, many of the keys to preventing suicides are found in strategies that raise awareness concerning suicide prevention, normalize discussions surrounding mental health issues, and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help. There are some practical steps that can be taken to implement these types of strategies and help reduce the risk of suicide among various risk groups.
Daytona State College working together with Seminole State College and the University of Central Florida (Daytona Campus) under a Garrett Lee Smith College Campus Suicide Prevention Grant developed Project SPEAK (Suicide Prevention Education And Knowledge). Project SPEAK will be hosting “A Matter of Life & Death 2012: 3rd Annual Conference on Suicide Prevention” which will focus on suicide prevention for Florida colleges, universities, schools and organizations.
The educational objective of the conference is to highlight the significance of the issue of suicide prevention, especially on school/college campuses and provide practical strategies to help develop specific strategies to help combat suicides. It is our intent to provide walk away strategies which are customizable and implementable to meet the needs of individual schools and organizations.
