Join Us!
Join our quarterly Zoom gathering with friends, family, and advocates affected by suicide. If you’ve lost someone or wish to support those in distress, Community Conversations is for YOU! Connect, learn about Missouri's suicide prevention initiatives, share resources, and collaborate to reduce suicide risk for Missourians!
2026 CCSP Meetings:
January 2026
Featured Speaker: Charvonne Long
Topic: Suicide Prevention Among Older Adults Fostering Strong Communities, Connections, And Resources
Key Highlights
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Focus Population: Older adults were identified as a population at increased risk for suicide, particularly adults age 55 and older, with higher rates among older men.
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Understanding Risk Factors:
Participants explored how chronic illness, mobility limitations, loss of loved ones, housing instability, and social isolation can increase suicide risk among older adults. -
Recognizing Warning Signs:
Key warning signs discussed included withdrawal from social activities, neglecting personal care, giving away possessions, mood changes, and preoccupation with death. -
Upstream Prevention Matters:
The session emphasized preventing suicide before a crisis occurs by strengthening connection, access to care, and supportive environments. -
Community Collaboration:
Breakout groups allowed participants to share real-world challenges and creative strategies being used across Missouri communities.
2026 CCSP Meetings:
April 2026
Featured Speakers: Tim Rowden & Sami Tayeb
This Community Conversations session focused on suicide prevention within the construction industry and featured presentations from Tim Rowden on the Hard Hat Courage initiative and Sam Taybi on the COMPASS framework for workplace suicide prevention.
Key Highlights
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Construction workers face significantly higher suicide risk.
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Suicide rates among construction workers are about 4 times higher than the general population for men.
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Suicide deaths in construction occur at a rate greater than workplace fatalities, highlighting the urgency of prevention efforts.
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Hard Hat Courage promotes mental health as a safety priority.
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The initiative encourages construction workplaces to treat mental health with the same importance as physical safety.
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Educational tools such as Toolbox Talks help normalize conversations about mental health and reduce stigma on job sites.
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Recognizing warning signs can save lives.
Participants learned to watch for changes such as:-
Withdrawal or isolation
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Increased substance use
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Mood or behavior changes
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Talking about feeling trapped, burdensome, or hopeless
Early conversations and support can make a critical difference.
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Chronic pain is an important risk factor.
Construction workers often experience long-term injuries or pain, which can increase risk for depression, substance use, and suicide. Supporting workers in managing pain and accessing care is essential. -
The COMPASS framework supports workplace suicide prevention.
The COMPASS program provides a multi-level prevention model designed specifically for construction workplaces, including:-
General awareness training for all workers
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Peer connector training to support coworkers
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Advanced intervention training for supervisors and leaders
These layered approaches help build a culture where seeking help is normalized.
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2026 CCSP Meetings:
July 2026
Featured Speakers: Jolie Foreman
Topic: Beyond Crisis: Strengthening Rural and Agricultural Communities Through Trusted Suicide Prevention Pathways
Conversation Recap...
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​During this Community Conversations session, attendees explored practical approaches to strengthening suicide prevention efforts in Missouri's rural and agricultural communities. Featured speaker Jolie Foreman, Executive Director of Shelby County Cares, shared how building trust, fostering relationships, and meeting people where they are can create meaningful opportunities to reduce stigma and connect individuals to support.
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Participants learned about innovative community-based initiatives, including Feed the Farmer, Grit Kits, women's connection events, youth mentorship, and partnerships with local businesses, schools, churches, healthcare providers, and agricultural organizations. The presentation emphasized that effective suicide prevention is rooted in trusted relationships, community collaboration, and practical strategies that reflect the unique strengths and needs of rural communities.
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During facilitated breakout discussions, attendees reflected on ways to strengthen suicide prevention efforts in their own communities. Common themes included the importance of trusted messengers, expanding peer support, engaging schools and youth-serving organizations, promoting safe firearm storage, leveraging community partnerships, and breaking down barriers between organizations to create a more coordinated approach to suicide prevention across Missouri.
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