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Christine Yu Moutier, M.D.
UAMS to Hold Suicide Prevention Public Forum on April 10
| LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is taking action against one of the state’s most urgent public health challenges by hosting a forum dedicated to suicide prevention and awareness. The initiative aims to equip attendees with potentially life-saving knowledge and strategies.
Experts in suicide prevention, including Christine Yu Moutier, M.D., the chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, will be on hand for the Arkansas Suicide Prevention Update on April 10 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Central Arkansas Library System’s Ron Robinson Theater.
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlight the critical nature of this effort. Suicide ranks among the top nine leading causes of death for Americans ages 10 to 64, with an especially devastating impact on young people —serving as the second leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 14 and 25 to 34. The crisis hits close to home: in 2022, Arkansas lost an estimated 547 residents to suicide.
An acclaimed author, Moutier has testified before Congress, presented at the White House and National Academy of Sciences and provided Congressional briefings on suicide prevention.
The half-day conference, open to medical providers, mental health professionals, educators, faith leaders, the business community and members of the public, will offer knowledge and resources designed to support individuals at risk for suicide. The event is sponsored by a Chancellor’s Circle Award from UAMS.
“We are honored, with support from the Chancellor’s Circle Award, to host this important event focused on suicide prevention,” said Laura Dunn, M.D., the director of the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute and chair of the Department of Psychiatry. “Our speakers and panelists will provide their expertise and highlight the latest updates on suicide prevention with a particular focus on how we can best help Arkansans.”
Several UAMS faculty from the Department of Psychiatry will take part in the forum. Jessica Coker, M.D., will discuss suicide and maternal mental health while Elissa Wilburn, M.D., and Sara Landes, Ph.D., will give talks on efforts to prevent suicide among adolescents and veterans, respectively.
A panel discussion will also be held, with local providers discussing their work in the field of suicide prevention. There is no cost to attend the event, but pre-registration is necessary. To register for the event, visit https://psychiatry.uams.edu/patients-and-visitors/arkansas-suicide-prevention-update/.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.
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