MA Department of Public Health

The goal of the Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Program is to reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts among Massachusetts residents. We seek to raise awareness of suicide as a public health problem. The Program provides support to community agencies, education and training for professionals and caregivers, and funds programs working with youth, veterans and older adults.

To that end, beginning in September 2010, the Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Program developed a webinar series designed to provide additional education, awareness, and information on suicide prevention and related topics of interest to providers and consumers throughout the Commonwealth. Below you will find descriptions as well as transcripts and closed captioned videos for each webinar. [Please note that the captioned videos open using QuickTime Player. If you do not have QuickTime Player already installed on your computer a free download is available here].

Webinar 1: 9.23.2010
That’s So Gay: Preventing and Addressing Anti-Gay and All Forms of Bullying

The That’s So Gay: Preventing and Addressing Anti-Gay and All Forms of Bullying webinar was presented by Marisa Howard-Karp, Program Director of The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Youth Project.  This webinar focused on increasing understanding of the impact of bullying and harassment among youth in schools, youth-serving communities, and communities at-large. 

Transcript: That’s So Gay
Video: That’s So Gay

Webinar 2: 10.29.2010
Standing in the Shadow of Love: The Role of the Black Church in Youth Suicide Prevention Webinar

The Standing in the Shadow of Love: The Role of the Black Church in Youth Suicide Prevention webinar was presented by Dr. Sherry Davis Molock, Associate Professor of Psychology at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. This webinar helped participants understand the cultural and religious challenges associated with talking about suicide in the African American community. In addition, participants learned practical solutions to help faith-based communities with other community based organizations and mental health professionals develop suicide prevention programs in African American churches.

Transcript: Standing in the Shadow in Love
Video: Standing in the Shadow of Love

Webinar 3: 11.18.2010
Battlemind Webinar

The Battlemind webinar was presented by Kevin Lambert, Special Population Outreach, of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services.  The “military mindset” of a service member is often times not easily understood by their civilian counterparts. Understanding the reintegration process of a returned service member is often difficult without understanding the transition they are making from “solider to civilian.” Therefore, this webinar helped providers have a better understanding of the psychological and social stressors endured by service members both during their deployment and upon returning home as well as providing information on how families can better assist and cope with the process.

Transcript: Battlemind
Video: Battlemind

Webinar 4: 12.15.2010
Young Black Men and Suicide Webinar

The Young Black Men & Suicide webinar was presented by Emmanuel Daphnis, MPH, MDiv, Director, of Operation Make a Difference (OMAD). This webinar identified and explored the risk factors that contribute to the current suicide trends within the Black male community. The presentation also explored the correlation between homicide as a form of indirect suicide.

Transcript: Young Black Men & Suicide
Video: Young Black Men & Suicide

Webinar 5: 1.25.2010
Cyberbullying Webinar

The Cyberbullying webinar was presented by Elizabeth Englander, Ph.D., Founder & Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University. This webinar focused on the causes of abusive (bullying) behaviors in children, with a particular emphasis on cyberbullying, Internet Safety, and cyber-risk behaviors.

Transcript: Cyberbullying
Video: Cyberbulling  

Webinar 6: 3.22.2010
Suicide Prevention and Intervention: Supporting Transgender Communities Webinar

The Suicide Prevention and Intervention: Supporting Transgender Communities webinar was presented by Gunner Scott, the Executive Director of The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, and a nationally recognized activist, educator, and community organizer on Transgender Rights, LGBT health issues, and LGBT partner abuse. This workshop provided an overview of transgender cultural information, specific data, experiences, and needs of transgender people with regards to suicidality, suicide prevention, and intervention.  Participants left with tools and skills to support transgender people so they may access their services or call their hotline.

Transcript: Supporting Transgender Communities
Video: Supporting Transgender Communities 

For More Information:

For more information about the webnars or other suicide prevention resources in Massachusetts, please contact us

For the DPH home page, click here

For a listing of DPH-sponsored trainings, click here

Contact Information:

Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Program
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02108-4619
Tel: 617-624-5544
Fax: 617-624-5075