Agenda

time
title
session/speaker/abstract
MORNING SESSIONS

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM

Welcome Remarks
(In-Person & Livestream)
Watch on: Mainstage
Liberty Hall

Steve McCaffrey, President & CEO, Mental Health America of Indiana
Leslie Hulvershorn, MD, IU Department of Psychiatry

9:15 AM – 10:00 AM

Morning Keynote
(In-Person & Livestream)
Watch on: Mainstage
Liberty Hall

Tackling the Mental Health & Criminal Justice Intersection
Steve Strakowski, MD
Professor and Vice Chair, Research
Indiana University School of Medicine

In the United States, jails and prisons are often reported as the leading providers of mental health care. No matter how this statistic is interpreted, it is clear too many individuals languish incarcerated waiting for mental health and substance use disorder services in circumstances in which legal and clinical needs become conflated. To address this problem, Travis County (Austin Texas) created a process to bring solutions that can be implemented and are fundable. Dr. Strakowski will present this work that he is leading.

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

BREAK & EXHIBIT HALL

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

Morning Session
(In-Person & Livestream)
Watch on: Mainstage
Liberty Hall

The Economic Burden of Untreated Mental Illness in Indiana
Heather Taylor, PhD, MPH, RDH
Assistant Professor
Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health

Left untreated, or undertreated, mental illness can increase the risk of many adverse outcomes ranging from lower productivity to increased mortality. At a population level, these outcomes lead to significant economic costs to society. To date, little work has been done to estimate the costs of untreated mental illness at the state-level. Policymakers, health insurers, and employers need credible and reliable cost estimates in order to make evidence-based decisions and frame targeted interventions. This session will review the prevalence of untreated mental illness in Indiana and present a framework to comprehensively estimate and tabulate the total annual economic burden of untreated mental illness at the state level.

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

Morning Session
(In-Person Only)
Veterans Hall 1

Firearms, Violence, and Mental Illness
Dr. George Parker, MD
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Indiana University School of Medicine

We will discuss the current data on firearm possession and use in the US, the relationship of mental illness to firearm violence, particularly with regard to mass shootings, and strategies to reduce or prevent the harm caused by firearm violence.

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

Morning Session
(In-Person Only)
Veterans Hall 2

Justice Involved Youth and Addiction Treatment: Lessons Learned from Indiana
Matthew Aalsma, PhD, HSPP
Professor of Pediatrics
Director of the Adolescent Behavioral Health Research Program
Indiana University School of Medicine

In the US, over half of youth involved in the juvenile justice system meet criteria for substance use disorder (SUD). Further, SUD is a consistent predictor of recidivism. Thus, significant improvements are needed to assure that justice-involved youth who meet criteria for SUD are screened and referred to care, especially in rural settings. ADAPT, an ongoing, statewide project, employs a learning health system (LHS) model to implement evidence-based practices (EBPs) to develop and improve alliances between juvenile justice (JJ) and community mental health centers (CMHCs). Over the last 24 months several counties across Indiana have been utilizing local data to guide the implementation of EBPs to screen, identify, refer and treat SUD. At this conference, the project will be discussed while highlighting facilitators as well as barriers to the implementation of EBPs for adolescent SUD.

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

Morning Session
(In-Person Only)
Veterans Hall 3

How our Brain Handles Challenges, and How That Leaves Us Vulnerable to Addiction and Anxiety
Frederic (Woody) Hopf, PhD
Professor, Psychiatry Dept
Indiana University School of Medicine

We all have a brain, a magnificent organ with amazing creativity and ability. At the same time, some features that can be great strengths, such as forming strong, lasting memories about what is most important, can also leave us open to learning, e.g., that alcohol or gambling is most important. Dr. Hopf will talk about work from his lab and others to help non-scientists begin to understand key brain regions that drive motivated action, how they are likely designed to help regulate emotions, and how this leaves us with a key vulnerability. Most central to this is a region about 1 ½ inches in from the top of the temple, the anterior insula cortex, and it’s connections to other brain areas. An early study found that a stroke in the insula could make quitting cigarettes much easier, and many studies since then suggest that this area may be a common regulator of addictions and anxiety-related conditions, along with other high-attention and -importance actions like driving a car. By better understanding this insula region and the logic under which it operates, it is hoped that people will be able to find a new way to think about how and why the brain works the way it does.

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

Morning Session
(In-Person Only)
Veterans Hall 4

Substance Use Disorder in the Postpartum Period: A Case for Greater Focus on this Critical Time
Dr. Camila Arnaudo, MD
Addictions Treatment Recovery Center
IU Health Bloomington Hospital

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Indiana. From the work of the Indiana Maternal Mortality Review Committee, we know that most of the deaths related to SUD occur in the late postpartum period. This is a time when people with SUD are often lost to follow-up and are facing mounting stressors and competing demands on their time. In this seminar we will discuss some of the factors that impact pregnant and postpartum with SUD and lead them to decrease their involvement with treatment and at times fatal outcomes. We will discuss stigma and how this is a particular problem for perinatal people who suffer from SUD, and the various levels at which it is present. Finally, we will discuss some possible solutions that could be put in place to improve the situation currently faced by perinatal people with SUD.

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM

BREAK & EXHIBIT HALL

HEROES FOR RECOVERY LUNCHEON & AWARDS CEREMONY WELCOME REMARKS

11:15 AM – 11:45 AM

2022 Heroes Testimonial
(In-Person & Livestream)
Watch on: Mainstage
Liberty Hall

Heroes for Recovery Testimonial
Lt. Governor, Suzanne Crouch
State of Indiana

11:45 AM – 12:45 PM

2022 Heroes for Recovery Luncheon
(In-Person & Livestream)
Watch on: Mainstage
Liberty Hall

2022 Heroes for Recovery Award Winners
Emceed by MHAI Board Chair

12:45 PM – 1:00 PM

BREAK & EXHIBIT HALL

AFTERNOON SESSIONS

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Afternoon Keynote
(In-Person & Livestream)
Watch on: Mainstage
Liberty Hall

Indiana Behavioral Health Commission Presentation
Jay Chaudhary
Director, Division of Mental Health and Addiction

Join Jay Chaudhary, Director, Division of Mental Health and Addiction for a brief presentation on the final report of the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission

1:15 PM – 1:45 PM

Afternoon Keynote Panel
(In-Person & Livestream)
Watch on: Mainstage
Liberty Hall

Behavioral Health Commission Report Panel Discussion
Members of the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission
Panel Moderated by Steve McCaffrey

Join the members of the Behavioral Health Commission as they discuss and answer questions regarding the commission report.

1:45 PM – 2:00 PM

BREAK & EXHIBIT HALL

2:00 PM – 2:10 PM

Afternoon Session
(In-Person & Livestream)
Watch on: Mainstage
Liberty Hall

Sharing a Personal Story
Moser Family

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Afternoon Session
(In-Person & Livestream)
Watch on: Mainstage
Liberty Hall

Indiana’s 988 and Crisis Response System: Seizing the Opportunity of a Lifetime
Christopher Drapeau
Executive Director of Prevention, Suicide Prevention and Crisis Response
Division of Mental Health & Addiction/FSSA

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is more than just an easy-to-remember number—it offers a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress. In this session, attendees will learn how the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is using the arrival of 988 to invest in a broader crisis response system. Attendees will also learn about the work that has been underway and will continue over the next seven to ten years. This complete system will ultimately include more than just someone to contact at a 988 center, but also someone to respond, a safe place for help, and a state infrastructure that aims to close existing gaps in the crisis care continuum.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Afternoon Session
(In-Person Only)
Veterans Hall 1

Collaborative Care: Improving Access to High Quality Mental Health Treatment
Emily Holmes, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Indiana University School of Medicine

Collaborative Care is an evidence-based model for the delivery of mental health care in primary care settings developed at the University of Washington. A robust evidence base demonstrates the benefits of collaborative care on mental health outcomes, physical health outcomes, improving access to care, and treatment of minoritized and disadvantaged populations. This presentation will describe the elements of collaborative care and will share the history and evolution of a collaborative care program here in Indianapolis, the CHOICE program. CHOICE (Changing Health Outcomes through Integrated Care Excellence) started in 2016 and transitioned to the collaborative care model in 2019. Barriers to establishing and maintaining collaborative care programs and future opportunities in collaborative care will also be discussed.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Afternoon Session
(In-Person Only)
Veterans Hall 2

Indiana Statewide Implementation of Multisystemic Therapy (MST)
Gabriela M. Rodríguez, PhD, HSPP
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Indiana University School of Medicine

Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is an evidence-based intervention for youth at risk of severe system consequence due to serious externalizing and/or delinquent behaviors (e.g., criminal activity, substance use) and their families. Youth and families receive treatment within the systems they are embedded in, such as their homes, schools, and communities, via licensed Multisystemic Therapy providers, which consist of a team (or teams) of 2-4 therapists and a supervisor. MST teams are on call 24/7 to provide treatment when and where it is needed—within any combination of these systems—and are dedicated to improving youth and family functioning. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division of Mental Health and Addiction has invested in a statewide implementation of MST in collaboration with Indiana University School of Medicine. Participants will learn about the MST intervention, the research evidence supporting positive outcomes following family participation in MST, and information about the statewide implementation process in Indiana.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Afternoon Session
(In-Person Only)
Veterans Hall 3

A Light in the Storm: Expanding Access to Trauma-Focused Services for Youth and Families through the Indiana INTREPID Center
Zachary Adams, PhD, HSPP
Clinical Psychologist & Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
IU Department of Psychiatry and IU Health/Riley Children’s Hospital

Indiana rates of child maltreatment are nearly double the national average, and Indiana youth experience adverse childhood events (ACEs) at higher rates than their peers nationally. Exposure to traumatic events and other forms of adversity can lead to a wide range of emotional, physical, and behavioral reactions that can last long after the event has ended. These reactions can be intense and impact different aspects of youths’ daily lives, including academic performance, relationships, and overall health and well-being. Fortunately, several treatment interventions have been developed that have been shown through research to be safe and effective in reducing trauma-related behavioral health symptoms and helping build resilience in youth and families. Yet there is a need to increase the availability and accessibility of those interventions through coordinated workforce capacity-building and implementation programs. The purpose of this presentation is to describe what is known about trauma and adversity among Indiana children and adolescents and to summarize evidence-based strategies for addressing pediatric traumatic stress. Specifically, Dr. Adams will describe the structure and goals of the newly funded Indiana Interdisciplinary Trauma and Resilience Education Partnership for Implementation and Dissemination (INTREPID) Center, an initiative to expand access to proven trauma-focused interventions statewide. The Indiana INTREPID Center is a partnership between Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, IU Health/Riley Hospital for Children, community mental health centers, state officials, and other stakeholders with funding support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). Key NCTSN resources will be highlighted with an emphasis on freely available materials healthcare professionals, educators, and caregivers can use to support youth who have experienced trauma.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Afternoon Session
(In-Person Only)
Veterans Hall 4

IN RCO Certification
Heather Rodriguez, MSW, CAPRC II
Director of the Indiana Recovery Network
Manager of Recovery Community Development with Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition 

State and national standards for recovery community organizations (RCO’s) vary and often have different levels of standards, best practices, and requirements which is why the Indiana Recovery Network partnered with the Division of Mental Health and Addictions, and Recovery Works, to create an RCO certification specifically for the state of Indiana.

This session will provide attendees with a walk through of the 8-step process to become a certified RCO, a review of the RCO application, and RCO policies and procedures. We will also provide attendees with a sneak peek at upcoming RCO trainings we will be delivering over the next year and FREE technical assistance the IRN will provide to emerging RCO’s interested in becoming certified. 

Indiana Suicide Prevenetion Network Mini Conference Agenda
Agenda

time
title
session/speaker/abstract
MORNING SESSIONS

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

Morning Session
(In-Person Only)
Veterans Hall 5

Story of Recovery, Resilience and Family Healing
1SG(R) Tom Cruz
Director Pathways to H.O.P.E
One CommunityUSA

A story of a Soldier saved by one person, the person he hurt the most, his wife, and how the two of them have trailblazed breaking stigmas both in the military (staying in the Army and keeping a high-level clearance) and the civilian environment (upon retirement). He has incorporated his family in his healing even his nine-year-old who travels and tells his own story of how he helps his father through tough times. Mr. Cruz’s road to recovery and resilience has led him to be sought out by every level of experts across the world from local to national levels of suicide prevention. He currently expanded his knowledge now to incarcerated Veterans and Civilians for them to be successful upon release from prison. The key to his mental health wellness runs through his family and how they work together as a team to combat the epidemic haunting our military members.

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

Morning Session
(In-Person Only)
Salon 6

The “Alternatives to Suicide” Approach to Crisis: Imagination, Common Sense, and Reducing Harm
Caroline Mazel-Carlton
Director of Training, Wildflower Alliance

Since 2009, folks with lived experience of psychiatric treatment for suicide in Massachusetts have partnered with the harm reduction and social justice communities to develop new supports. These efforts began with “Alternatives to Suicide” groups co-facilitated by individuals with lived experience of navigating suicidal thoughts or attempts. In these settings, participants could voice and explore thoughts of suicide in an environment where clinical risk assessments, pathologizing language, “liability” focus and non-consensual treatment protocols were intentionally absent. As these dialogues occurred, new ways to respond and support naturally developed in the space created by letting go of conventional paradigms. The “Alternatives to Suicide” approach is now taught in diverse regions throughout the world, offering paradigm shifts that can be implemented in various roles from clinical to administrative to family support. Research now indicates that this approach is highly effective in reducing the lethality of suicidal thoughts and building a sense of power and community amongst struggling people.

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

Morning Session
(In-Person Only)
Salon 7

Developing Digital Safe Spaces For Black Mental Health
Brandon J. Johnson, MHS, MCHES
Creator, The Black Mental Wellness Lounge

Mental health and suicide prevention are becoming topics more commonly discussed in the Black community. However, there are few resources designed specifically for the Black community to help them heal and get connected to information created just for them. This session is about a safe space created on YouTube to engage the Black community on topics of mental health and healing. The mission is to create content on Black mental health that anyone, whether a professional in the field or not, can use to increase their knowledge and awareness of the specific mental health needs, challenges, and assets of Black people. Each video comes with strategies and resources for Black people on their own path to mental wellness or to help someone else on their journey. The creator of the Lounge will discuss its creation, its impact, and how others can support the mission of positive mental health and wellness for the Black community.

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

Morning Session
(In-Person Only)
Salon 8

Safety Equals Trust
Rossville Student Ambassadors: Ariel Abbott, Emersyn Hill, Simon Wilson, and Payne Terry (Teachers: Erin Dillingham and Emily Vanderwall)
Student Leaders, Rossville Middle/High School

Through this presentation, students from Rossville High School will discuss a student-led initiative aimed at improving physical safety as well as mental and emotional safety within the school. As a student body, they originally developed two student leadership teams, the Student Safety Team, who focused primarily on safety, and the Student Advisory Council, who focused on positive school culture. From this, the teams were merged into one collective group, the Student Ambassadors, in order to be more efficient in meeting the school’s goals. Over the past year, the team has conducted surveys, audits, and participated in, as well as led student leadership conferences to develop a better understanding of how safety is perceived within the school. Currently, the team is creating a second follow up survey in addition to developing a county-wide student leadership conference. Looking forward, the group intends to continue tackling safety issues such as bullying and vaping to promote a positive atmosphere within the school.

AFTERNOON SESSIONS

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Afternoon Session
(In-Person Only)
Veterans Hall 5

Power of the Peer-Led Model: Empowering Youth to Fight Mental Health Stigma
Karin Gilbert
Regional Program Manager – Indiana
Bring Change to Mind

In this session, we will discuss the impact of peer-led programs, specifically with youth mental health. With the current data, many are calling the mental health crisis “a second pandemic”. As educators, how are we creating systems and safe spaces where youth take a front seat in the change, and not only learn to self-advocate but take action? You will engage with and explore ways to implement programs that empower young people and create lasting change in our communities.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Afternoon Session
(In-Person Only)
Salon 6

Agriculture and Mental Health: Supporting our Farmers for a Healthier Harvest
Emily Kresca
Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator
Purdue Extension – Kosciusko County

Farming is an inherently dangerous occupation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, farmers and farm workers experience fatal injuries at a rate nearly seven times that of non-farm civilian occupations. Farming is also chronically plagued with stressors of the unknown including weather, regulations, input costs, and market prices to name a few. Net farm income has declined 71% since 2013 and commodity prices have not exceeded the break-even point for over four years. This increasing financial strain threatens the livelihood and heritage of our family farms resulting in chronic stress, anxiety, and depression for farm families. According to data, farmers are six times more likely to die by suicide than any other occupation.

In addition, farm families experience many barriers to seeking treatment and help when in crisis. Through the work of the Purdue Extension Farm Stress team, farmers often state that they would be more willing to speak with a professional if they felt professionals understood them and what they encounter as part of their work and lives. This presentation will allow you to understand the unique needs and barriers of the farming community, the response of the Purdue Extension Farm Stress Team, partnerships formed through grant activity, potential lethal means specific to farming and agriculture, and how you can support our farmers for a healthier harvest.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Afternoon Session
(In-Person Only)
Salon 7

LOSS Teams 101: What are they, why are they important
Alice Jordan-Miles
Director
Purdue University Fort Wayne – Behavioral Health and Family Studies Institute

During this workshop, participants will be educated on the importance and development of LOSS Teams. Presenter will discuss the concept of LOSS Teams with an overview of it’s impact on survivors of suicide loss. Participants will increase their knowledge about the steps to start a Team and how postvention, if done correctly, is also prevention. 

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Afternoon Session
(In-Person Only)
Salon 8

Peer Support in the Fire Service 
Tim Gallagher
Peer Support Coordinator, Media and Comms L416
Indianapolis Professional Firefighters Local 416 and Wayne Township Fire Department 

Peer Support Teams are comprised of active and retired firefighters who talk with other peers (active and retired) about stress-related concerns and connect members with needed services.

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM

BREAK & EXHIBIT HALL

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM

Afternoon Session
(In-Person & Livestream)
Watch on: Mainstage
Liberty Hall

Closing Remarks
Steve McCaffrey, President & CEO
Mental Health America of Indiana