Annual Gulf Coast Social Work Conference
Today, over 600 social workers flooded the IP Casino for the 26th annual Gulf Coast Social Work Conference.
Every year, social workers gather on the Coast to brush up on their skills and listen to ten hours of programming.
Today, a big topic of discussion was suicide prevention. Dr. John Draper, executive director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, spoke at the conference to talk about what people can do to prevent suicide.
Dr. Draper says one of the best things you can do is be there for someone going through a mental health crisis. “A lot of people think we have to take everyone to the doctor or we always have to call a hotline, all of those things are great, but there are things I would call emotional CPR. Being present for someone and not being afraid to ask them if they are suicidal and also saying we are going to get help together. I don’t have to fix the problem; all I have to do is be there with you.”
For more information on suicide prevention you can go to bethe1to.com.
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