CPS Professor Provides Keynote Address at the Australian National Suicide Postvention Conference

Scott Poland, Ed.D., Center for Psychological Studies associate professor and the coordinator of the NSU Suicide and Violence Prevention Office, recently presented at the 2nd Australian Postvention Conference held in Melbourne, Australia. Poland provided the keynote address on teen suicide in addition to workshops on prevention in the schools and suicide contagion. He also participated in the conference closing panel with the National Secretary for Suicide Prevention, the Chair of the Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council and the National Advisor to the Australian Government on Suicide Prevention.

The conference theme was “Connectedness: A Link to Hope.” Attendees were from all over Australia and included bereavement support practitioners and emergency personnel representing various government, school, community agencies. The attendees were particularly interested in Poland’s extensive experience assisting U.S. communities that have experienced youth suicide clusters and contagion.

Poland also conducted a number of media interviews in Melbourne and Sydney and appeared on four television programs including, Today Show in Australia and the Kerry Anne Show (which in Australian is comparable to Oprah). He also was interviewed by the Sydney Herald and the Australian Teacher Magazine and appeared on national radio and local radio in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.