Update
On September 30th, our community came together for the Steven J. Button Symposium on Suicide Prevention: Taking Action, Saving Lives. It was a day filled with connection, learning, and hope—a reminder of what can happen when people across disciplines and experiences gather to strengthen our shared commitment to suicide prevention.
This year, we were honored to welcome Dr. Kate Comtois, PhD, MPH, as our keynote speaker. Her sessions on Suicide Risk Assessment and the Ethics of Suicide Prevention in Healthcare offered practical tools and deeply relevant insights. The impact was clear—attendees left with new strategies to take back to their practices, and many shared how the training would directly change the way they support clients, patients, and students.
The numbers tell their own story
- 75% rated the program as excellent, with another 21% rating it very good.
- 89% praised Dr. Comtois’ knowledge and presentation skills as excellent.
- Attendees called the sessions “fantastic,” “engaging,” and “practical.” More than 20 participants committed to revising their suicide risk policies and informed consent practices immediately.
But numbers only go so far. The true story of the symposium is in the faces of participants leaning in, asking hard questions, and sharing experiences. It’s in the volunteers who greeted attendees with warmth at check-in and throughout the day. It’s in the sponsors and donors whose generosity made this gathering possible.
A heartfelt thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Cambia Health Foundation, for their leadership in mental health and community wellness. We are also deeply grateful to TriState Health, Lewis-Clark Early Childhood Program, Quality Behavior Health, RiverPlace Counseling & Wellness, SEL, and all who contributed—whether through sponsorship, time, or expertise.
To the volunteers who staffed tables, prepared materials, helped us set up, and cheered us on—you made the day run seamlessly. To every attendee who chose to spend a day learning, connecting, and carrying this work forward—you are the heart of prevention.
This symposium is more than an event. It is a community promise: that suicide is preventable, that no one is alone, and that together we can build a region where support is accessible, stigma is reduced, and hope is always within reach.
From all of us at SPIN, thank you for making this year’s symposium such a powerful success.
