I just registered for @youthsuicideres's 2nd annual national conference, June 10 - 11, 2021. If you liked #AAS21, you're going to love this conference. Integrating Diverse Perspectives to Close the Gap Between Youth Suicide Research, Policy, and Practice...
Congratulations on a phenomenal #AAS21 conference. 5700 tweets reaching 46 million timelines. This breaks down barriers and increases access to life affirming and life saving information. If you missed the conference, look over the tweets and join us for #AAS22 in Chicago.
Thank you for the shout out @creightonc. You did a phenomenal job MC'ing #AAS21. Thank you! Props to the 1,240 first time attendees and the nearly 2500 registrants. Looking forward to #AAS22 in Chicago. Please join us! And that's a wrap!
@drlezine: I want to share a couple of thoughts from an ASLE perspective. There is darkness, but we can't just focus on the darkness. There is light. There is not just one road in and not one road out. Your path might not be someone else's. But it is a pathway. #AAS21
@beckycstone acknowledges @drlezine for organizing the #AAS21 conference. Starting Monday, we're taking the ideas and suggestions to @1of2vics who will start the process of planning #AAS22 in Chicago.
@creightonc closing out #AAS21 conference. She acknowledges the amazing program put together by program chairs @drlezine and @beckycstone. Becky - "You plan a party and hope the cool kids showed up. The coolest kids showed up in unprecedented numbers. Thank you."
Q: How do you establish boundaries?
A: It is hard, especially in the pandemic because you're accessible in so many forms. The key thing is intentionality. I need to be very intentional about how I give my time, rest and recover.
#AAS21
Q: Your story is an example of post-traumatic growth. Would you give up the growth you've experienced to have your father or cousin back?
A: Yes. But I am who I am because I am able to grow. I miss my dad and cousin and I would love to have them back. #aas21
Q: What would your dad think of you today?
A: I think he would be happy for me. He always said he wanted to be happy, even if it was playing ping pong. He would be proud of me as a parent. #AAS21
Q: Can you talk about the media's coverage of your dad's death?
A: The news media was pretty positive. I think the entertainment industry needs more education and training. They need to understand how to portray the experience of suicide risk and loss in a helpful way. #AAS21
@ZakWilliams
Q: Props for acknowledging the importance of private grieving before stepping into the public light.
A: I didn't show up for myself. I missed out on some steps. I went through a period of depression. I wasn't feeling fulfilled. I was resentful. #AAS21
Q: How did you "fill your cup"
A: @zakwilliams I use specific mental health hygiene (active AA member, 4-years sober), nutrition, walking with nature, connecting with friends, daily gratitude and meditation. #AAS21
@ZakWilliams
Q: Can you talk about being a "public" survivor of suicide loss
A: It was dissonant. I didn't understand the boundary between public and private grieving. It took about a year after his death to start to grieve privately and personally.
#AAS21
Q&A for @zakwilliams
Q: How did growing up with your dad's mental health journey affect you?
A: I didn't pick up on it until early adulthood. It was profound. I was able to connect around this "family tradition" of addiction and deepen our relationship & friendship. #AAS21
@ZakWiliams describes his push to "help others" kept him from healing himself. "I bottomed out." It isn't selfish to care for yourself. We need to support suicide loss survivors who are dedicated to helping others to step back. I've heard this message from @HowitFeelsBook. #AAS21
@zakwilliams notes that service is not the only solution for suicide loss survivors. But for him, it helped him move through the trauma without self-medicating through alcohol. He quit smoking, drinking and uses a daily gratitude practice. #AAS21
@zakwilliams noted that after his father's suicide he was diagnosed with PTSD and felt his life unravel. By supporting causes associated with mental health, he could share his story and heal as a result of that "enrichment loop." #AAS21
@AASuicidology CEO @creightonc and @drlezine on the stage introducing the last speaker of #AAS21, @ZakWilliams.
A historic #AAS21 conference is coming to a close. The largest number of attendees in @AASuicidology history, the first hybrid conference, tweets with nearly 45 million timeline impressions. Up next: closing keynote by @zakwilliams (Robin William's son)....
Thank you to @8675309Carson and @ShelbyRoweNYC for noting that my tweet did not acknowledge Matt Miller's stellar response to @echohawkd3's comment. She did not name him, but he took responsibility for the comment and acknowledged why and how the idea perpetuated harm. #AAS21
Audience Q&A:
Q: how does k work with chronic ideation? A: @edayballard: we need research on how ketamine works with chronic suicidal ideation. Current research focuses on short term ideation.
Q: With addiction?
A: Caution enrolling in people w/ addictions in K trials.#AAS21
@edayballard and colleagues wrote up a review of ketamine and suicide ideation in @AASuicidology's flagship journal, Suicide & Life-Threatening Behaviors. Free to read: #AAS21
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/sltb.12...
@edayballard Single system design for understanding how an individual might respond to ketamine. Combines sleep study with administration and sleep study #AAS21
@edayballard Summary slide! (I love it when folks tell me what they are going to tell me, then tell me, then tell me what they told me :-). #AAS21
@edayballard Intravenous ketamine not to be confused with intranasal esketamine (not shown to be effective on suicidal ideation) There is a growing intrest in psilocybin and other psychedelics. #AAS21
@edayballard Lots that we do not know, including the role of ketamine + other therapies. Also important: intravenous ketamine is off-patent and there is a huge increase in the number of private providers who are administering ketamine. #AAS21
fair and balanced sci report #AAS21
@edayballard provides a neurobiological background of ketamine. She also, not ironically, says that she wants to provide a flashback. #AAS21
@edayballard Treating acute suicidal crises requires an understanding of the timeline and when intervention is most effective. Pharma companies are developing fewer psychometric meds because of the low approval rates. #AAS21
