Keynote Speaker
Bart Andrews, PhD
Vice President of Clinical Practice/Evaluation
Behavioral Health Response
Bart Andrews is vice president of clinical practice/evaluation at Behavioral Health Response (BHR). Dr. Andrews started at BHR as a crisis intervention clinician in 1998, and has dedicated the last 17 years of his life to suicide and crisis intervention. He is a person in recovery and a suicide attempt survivor. Dr. Andrews believes that the path to suicide prevention must be framed within the context of relationships, community, and culture, and that suicide is a community health problem, which everyone can help to address.
Dr. Andrews has over 20 years of experience providing behavioral health services. He received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and his MA and PhD from Southern Illinois University.
Dr. Andrews has over 20 years of experience providing behavioral health services. He received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and his MA and PhD from Southern Illinois University.
He is actively involved in raising community awareness about the risk of suicide and training community members, law enforcement, and other professionals in suicide assessment and intervention. He serves on several crisis and suicide-related boards, including as vice president of the National Association of Crisis Organization Directors and co-chair of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s Standards, Training, and Practices Sub-Committee.
Dr. Andrews is also an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) senior training coach. Through BHR, Dr. Andrews created and implemented the first suicide follow-up program in Missouri, which allowed BHR to expand suicide follow-up care to youth and adults throughout the eastern region of the state.
Dr. Andrews is also an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) senior training coach. Through BHR, Dr. Andrews created and implemented the first suicide follow-up program in Missouri, which allowed BHR to expand suicide follow-up care to youth and adults throughout the eastern region of the state.
Expert Analysis
Dr. Elizabeth Sale
Evaluation Director & Research Associate Professor
Missouri Institute of Mental Health
Dr. Elizabeth Sale is the evaluation director and a research associate professor at the Missouri Institute of Mental Health. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of survey and evaluation research, with specific expertise in conducting process and outcome evaluations in the field of child and adolescent mental health and substance abuse prevention.
Dr. Sale’s skills include research and evaluation design, logic model development, survey sampling methods, measures development, and qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Dr. Sale’s skills include research and evaluation design, logic model development, survey sampling methods, measures development, and qualitative and quantitative analysis.
She has evaluated many nationally recognized evidence-based prevention programs and has extensive experience in the management and analysis of national longitudinal multi-site evaluations.
Dr. Sale is an adjunct research associate professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia in the School of Public Health. She has published in several peer-reviewed journals including the American Journal of Community Psychology, the Journal of Primary Prevention, the American Journal on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, and the Journal of Drug Education.
Dr. Sale is an adjunct research associate professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia in the School of Public Health. She has published in several peer-reviewed journals including the American Journal of Community Psychology, the Journal of Primary Prevention, the American Journal on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, and the Journal of Drug Education.
Lela Thompson, Founder of Shayley’s Angels
Lela Thompson is the founder of Shayley’s Angels, a non-profit organization focused on breaking the stigmas surrounding mental health by raising suicide/depression awareness.
Five years ago, Lela lost her daughter Shayley to suicide. It’s because of her daughter that Missourians are asked to give a compliment leading into Suicide Awareness Month, which is in September. Thanks to Lela’s efforts, August 31st is recognized as ‘Random Acts of Kindness Day’ all across Missouri.
Lela will share her personal story of losing her daughter to suicide and highlight the work her organization is doing to break the stigmas surrounding mental health.
Five years ago, Lela lost her daughter Shayley to suicide. It’s because of her daughter that Missourians are asked to give a compliment leading into Suicide Awareness Month, which is in September. Thanks to Lela’s efforts, August 31st is recognized as ‘Random Acts of Kindness Day’ all across Missouri.
Lela will share her personal story of losing her daughter to suicide and highlight the work her organization is doing to break the stigmas surrounding mental health.
Special Musical Performance
Ashley Smith will help us remember loved ones we’ve lost to suicide with a special live performance of “You Say”.
Panel Speakers
A panel of experts will share about the work their organizations are doing to prevent suicides and guide us to next steps we can take to help.
