VCPI & DMH to host Vermont Suicide Prevention Symposium

On September 11, 2025 the annual Vermont Suicide Prevention Symposium will be held in Burlington, VT - providing opportunities for learning, connection, and hope all Vermonters.

“We are coming together at the Symposium to provide resources and support for anyone navigating the complexities of suicide - whether personally, professionally, or with loved ones,” said Alex Lehning, Executive Director of the Vermont Collaborative for Practice Improvement & Innovation (VCPI). “We understand that Vermonters are more at-risk for death by suicide, suicide attempts, and self-harm compared to the national average. The more we can learn, share, and create connections - the more lives we can save,” said Lehning.

The day-long conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Burlington will include presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities featuring voices and perspectives from around Vermont and New England. The themes of the event include community & workplace suicide prevention with sessions designed for mental health clinicians, peer support workers, advocates & families, individuals with lived experience, healthcare providers, educators, and community members. The Symposium is presented by VCPI in partnership with the Vermont Department of Mental Health (DMH).

“Suicide prevention is not the work of one person or one agency-it is a shared commitment,” said Chris Allen, Director of Suicide Prevention for Vermont. “The Symposium offers an opportunity for learning and growth that can strengthen Vermont’s response to this urgent issue. Everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide.”

Highlights include: 

Keynote Speaker: AnneMoss Rogers
AnneMoss Rogers is a motivational mental health and suicide prevention speaker/trainer who keynotes at conferences and speaks at workplaces, universities, and schools, helping to foster resilience, emotional wellness, and a culture of well-being. After her 20-year-old son, Charles died by suicide in 2015, AnneMoss wrote her award-winning memoir, Diary of a Broken Mind and in 2020, she co-wrote the Amazon best seller, Emotionally Naked: A Teacher’s Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing

Students at Risk with Dr. Kimberly O’Brien, now translated into three languages. She has been a TEDx speaker, was featured in the New York Times, Variety Magazine, and was the first non-clinician invited to speak at the National Institute of Mental Health on suicide. She has been interviewed by CNN’s Erin Burnette on teen mental health at the prestigious Billionaire’s Summer Camp and is one of the editors of the American Academy of Pediatrics Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention. A UNC-Chapel Hill alumna, Anne Moss currently lives in Richmond, VA.

Learning Opportunities
Participants will choose from among over a dozen diverse workshops across multiple sessions throughout the day, to engage in transformational learning, develop valuable skills, and access the resources they need to make a positive impact. Topics include: strategies for working with Vermont populations of focus (including veterans, youth, athletes, and men); addressing problem gaming & suicide; provider wellness; current research in suicide prevention; suicide prevention in the workplace & in policing; postvention, community-building & more. Training in QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), Talk Saves Lives, and UMatter will also be offered during the Symposium.

Creating Connections
In addition to workshops & presentations, there will be multiple opportunities for participants to connect, share and network. Exhibitors from area nonprofits will be on hand to share information, resources, and handouts about suicide prevention efforts across the Green Mountain State. Students from UVM’s Public Health graduate program and College of Medicine will also be presenting their research. Nominations are also being accepted for community champion awards to recognize outstanding Vermont suicide prevention efforts.

This event is open to the public and all are welcome. Tickets are $130/each and include breakfast, lunch, and all conference materials. Continuing education units will be offered (pending) and scholarships are available. 

 Follow this link for more information about the agenda, speakers, and registration: bit.ly/vsps25