Collateral Damage: The Impact of Suicide on Congregations and Caregivers

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Suicide is a common cause of death which is often challenging to discuss because of stigma. A particular difficulty is the way suicide leaves painful questions within family members and caregivers of those lost to this grievous consequence of mental illness. This session will discuss this problem and how faith communities can come together to provide a healing space in the midst of pain and uncertainty.

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1.5 CEUs will be offered for LCSW, LMFT, LPC, and Clinical Psychologist.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL ATTENDEES PRIOR TO THE EVENT. Check in will begin 15 minutes prior to the program beginning. Due to video filming, late attendees will be asked to view the presentation in the Green Room.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Thomas E. Ellis, PsyD, ABPP; and Director of Psychology at the Menninger Clinic and Professor of Psychiatry in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine

Thomas earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin and his doctorate at Baylor University. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Clinical and Psychotherapy Divisions) and Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology (Cognitive Behavior Therapy). He is a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and Associate Fellow of the Albert Ellis Institute. His research and publications focus primarily on the problem of suicide, including cognitive characteristics of suicidal individuals and the effectiveness of suicide-specific therapeutic interventions. His books include Suicide Risk: Assessment and Response Guidelines (with W. Fremouw and M. dePerczel, 1990), Choosing to Live: How to Defeat Suicide through Cognitive Therapy (with C. Newman, 1996), and Cognition and Suicide: Theory, Research, and Practice (2006). He is the 2011 recipient of the Roger J. Tierney Award from the American Association of Suicidology, in recognition of distinguished contributions to the organization and the field of suicidology.

James W. Lomax, M.D., Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Lomax is a psychoanalyst whose clinical effort involves psychotherapeutic and psychoanalytic treatment of individuals with anxiety, mood, and personality disorders, as well as those with complicated grief, traumatic loss, and other adjustment reactions. He is interested in the interface between psychiatry (from a psychoanalytic perspective), religion, and spirituality. His interdisciplinary efforts involve the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine with the Institute for Spirituality and Health of The Texas Medical Center, the Department of Religious Studies, Rice University, the Hope and Healing Center and Institute at Saint Martin’s Episcopal Church, and many of the clinical entities of the Texas Medical Center. The purpose of these relationships is to deepen the exploration of phenomena, such as healing, grief, and response to loss from the different perspectives that each of the aforementioned disciplines brings to bear on similar situations.

Reverend Gregory Han

The Rev. Gregory Han is the Director of Interfaith Relations at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, where, since June of 2014, he has led a four-person staff in building networks, strengthening relationships, and providing resources to increase and deepen understanding across religious traditions. Since moving to Houston in 1998, Rev. Han has been a hospital chaplain and served nearly eight years in two different Presbyterian congregations. For six years he was on the faculty of St. John’s School, where he taught courses in religion and ethics and also coordinated the school’s Chapel program. Rev. Han holds degrees from Georgetown University and Harvard Divinity School.

Ye Beverly Du, M.D., MPH

Beverly Du received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed adult psychiatry residency at Columbia University. She has a strong interest in education, psychotherapy and personality disorders, including Borderline Personality Disorder. She currently serves as Medical Director of the Intensive Outpatient Program at Ben Taub Hospital, the Director of Psychotherapy Education for the Baylor Adult Psychiatry Residency, and the Associate Director of Medical Student Education  at the Baylor College of Medicine.

Father Lawrence W. Jozwiak, J.C.L.

Fr. Lawrence W. Jozwiak, J.C.L., is a native Houstonian, received a Catholic education (1^st grade through St. Pius X High School).  Went to the University of Houston for 1^st two years and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1980 with a BBA in accounting.  Received his C.P.A. license and worked for an oil and gas company.  Entered St. Mary Seminary and was ordained a priest on May 23, 1987, receiving a Master’s Degree in Divinity from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Received a graduate degree in Canon Law (J.C.L.) from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1991.  He is the Pastor / Rector of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (since 2008), the Judicial Vicar for the Metropolitan Tribunal for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (since 1997) and an adjunct professor of Canon Law at the Graduate School of Theology for the University of St. Thomas, located at St. Mary Seminary (since 2001).

Sheikh Joe Bradford

Joe Bradford is an author, entrepreneur, and American scholar of Islamic studies. He holds a graduate degree in Islamic law from Medina University and has worked professionally in finance for the past 10 years. He’s the author of “Simple Zakat Guide” and the “Muslim Money Guide.” He currently teaches at Prairie View A&M University and runs his own advisory. He blogs at joebradford.net.