Regional Coalitions

We have 6 Regional Coalitions in the Berkshires, Pioneer Valley, Central MA, Northeast, Greater Boston and Cape and Islands.  Each of our Regional Coalitions receives funding from the MCSP for regional initiatives and efforts.  See below for some of our 2012 accomplishments:

Regional Coalition Activities for 2012

Cape and Islands Regional Coalition

Coordinated Suicide Prevention Awareness Week activities including displays at 7 local libraries, World Suicide Prevention Day ceremony with local elected officials and tables at local community events

Laughing Away the Blues ‘spirit-raiser’ and silent auction event attended by 150 people

Sponsored 20 runners in the Falmouth Road Race to raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention

Public education series including a Workplace Business Wellness Forum, Battlemind presentation featuring Kevin Lambert and a Men Get Depression television show which aired for 2 months on local cable stations

Hired a part time training coordinator and conducted suicide prevention trainings (3 QPR, 4 CONNECT, 2 ASIST and 4 Older Adult.)

 

Greater Boston Regional Coalition

Established a Planning Committee that meets monthly to set priorities and upcoming events

Determined two-part focus.

To create trainings and materials for suicide prevention that appropriate for the minority communities that make up the majority of the population of Boston,

To create educational experiences that are attractive for the general membership of the Coalition.

Held first training community-specific training in December for the Cape Verdean community.

Conference on Means Restriction featuring speakers Dr Matthew Miller and Dr. Cathy Barber

Continued to participate in MCSP activities at the state level.

 

Northeast Regional Coalition

Hosted 6th Annual Leadership Breakfast featuring Dr. Thomas Joiner, followed by an afternoon workshop with Dr. Joiner on his new book “Lonely at the Top”

Hosted 4th Annual Survivors of Suicide Loss Day with 25 participants.  Provided holiday cards to each participant with a picture of the ornament they brought in to remember their loved ones.

Completed 4 Connect trainings and 1 Survivor Voices training to prepare survivors of suicide loss to speak safely and effectively

Purchased books on suicide and surviving suicide to be distributed to local libraries in the Northeast area.

Developed suicide survivor’s packets with various resources and materials which were distributed to funeral homes and clergy.

 

Central MA Regional Coalition

Appearances on local TV and radio shows to promote suicide prevention awareness in the community

Develop library of suicide prevention awareness materials, survivor resources and information for parents/ guardians

Community outreach and outlining next steps for a messaging campaign and website creation to be launched in the Spring

Held several open General Membership meeting which drew in supporters from the community, including organizational representatives, survivors, individual community members, and other stakeholders.

 

Pioneer Valley Regional Coalition

Provided support to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Western Mass chapter to facilitate outreach efforts to men through the printing of a brochure on men and depression in Spanish

Provided support to the South Hadley coalition screening for mental health Day

Supported t-shirt design contest for Art and Graphic Art students at Dean Tech School in Holyoke.  Students designed and printed with prevention messages as well as the state wide hotline/helpline number

Supported Franklin County Tech School poster contest- student posters were hung around the school with messaging on depression and suicide awareness as well as the statewide hotline number

Supported OutNow LGBT (Springfield) youth center sessions using a “theater of the oppressed” model – Participants acted different scenarios and others gave give feedback and alternative scenarios.

 

Berkshire Regional Coalition

“Battlemind” presentation by Kevin Lambert—co-sponsored by NAMI and Berkshire Medical Center (sold out at 102) Presentation recorded with online link.

Youth Conference “Building Resilience & Protective Factors” Co-sponsored with Berkshire Medical Center and AFSP on February 1, 2013 (sold out at 258) Presentation recorded and DVDs to be distributed to schools and agencies.

Taped 3 different half-hour community television programs regarding suicide prevention as well as a live interview on public radio program for Survivor Day

Promoted National Depression Screening Day events in Pittsfield, local suicide loss support groups and a local Survivors of Suicide Day event. Funded training of a new facilitator for a teen support group.

Hosted several Public Education forums with topics including NAMI’s “In Our Own Voice”, Postpartum Depression, and Understanding Student Veterans.

Supported and sustained school prevention and their postvention efforts, including a lending library of materials (More Than Sad, Toolkit for Schools, and Signs of Suicide Prevention Program).

Partner with local organizations on a legislative breakfast forum to address funding for mental health, suicide prevention and to discuss policy initiatives.