Suicide Awareness Summit 2025

Join us for our annual Suicide Awareness Summit at FSU Panama City in the St. Joe Lecture Hall inside the Holley Academic Building. This is a free, in-person-only event open to the community. We will discuss issues and solutions surrounding mental health and suicide. Evidence-based training will be provided to participants. Advance registration for the summit is required.

This year's theme is "Trauma to Resilience: Coping Through Connection." The summit focus on the mental health challenges of Service Members, Veterans & First Responders.

This year's keynote speaker is Michelle Lawrence, LMHC, MCAP, Lead clinician for , which focuses on the mental health and well-being of first responders and their families. Lawrence's topic will be "How the Brain Reacts to Trauma."

Also speaking at the summit will be Anna Hunter, Director of Marketing for , and organization that brings veterans together using humor and camaraderie to improve mental health and prevent suicide.

The summit concludes with a networking lunch provided at no charge to all event attendees.

Following the lunch, there is an optional suicide prevention skills training from 1-2pm. The 1-hour workshop presents a standardized, nationally recognized approach known as , delivered by . Separate advance registration for the QPR Training is required using this link: eventbrite.com/e/1389709421289

EVENT SCHEDULE

· Check In & visit resource tables – 8:30-8:55am

· Welcome from Irvin Clark, EdD – 9:05am

· Keynote Address: "How the Brain Reacts to Trauma" presented by Michelle Lawrence, LMHC, 2nd Alarm Project - 9:10am

· Introduction of Community Resources – 10:15am

· Break (25 minutes) – 10:45-11:10am

· Video: "You Are Not Alone" – 11:12am

· Transitional Remarks by Chas Davis – 11:16am

· "Using Humor and Camaraderie to Improve the Veteran Outlook" presented by Anna Hunter, Director of Marketing, Irreverant Warriors - 11:25am

· Closing Remarks from summit committee chair Mike McLaughlin, LCSW, Florida State University - Panama City – 11:55am

· Networking Lunch – 12-1pm

· QPR Training presented by PanCare – 1-2pm

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Florida State University Panama City, 4750 Collegiate Drive, Panama City, United States