Free Youth Suicide Prevention and Grief Workshops

Email Maryann - Sandhillswellness@gmail.com to Register

“Take Good Care”

A Workshop for Those Who Mourn

Kevin Keelen, MA, presenting

This workshop will discuss the essentialness of self-care, particularly after loss, and practical ways of caring for ourselves in mind, body and spirit.

With over 30 years of experience as a Bereavement Minister, Kevin Keelen, M.A., is an author, and a Peer Support Group Facilitator at Stephy’s Place Center for Grief and Loss in Red Bank, where he facilitates 14 support groups. Stephy’s Place offers free peer support groups for adults who have lost partners, children, siblings, parents or a loss to someone from suicide. Kevin is also a Funeral Celebrant for several funeral homes. As a former Roman Catholic priest, Kevin has walked with countless people who are grieving. It is, however, Kevin’s own personal losses that bring him to his current ministry: at age 20, he suddenly lost his father, and over the years he lost his sister and nephew to suicide, a niece to an overdose, and many other family and friends along the way, as he puts it, “too many to count.”

Although this workshop serves as Part II of Kevin’s last workshop entitled, “The ThresHold of Grief,” which is the name of Kevin’s book, one does not have to have attended the first as they both stand on their own.

Take Good Care dives much deeper into many of the topics presented in Kevin’s last workshop, examining effective tools for self-care in mind, body, and spirit, as well as the movement from loneliness to solitude, and the importance of self-compassion and gratitude work.

There will be opportunities for sharing and discussion.

Kevin will also recommend resources and other authors that people find most helpful.

https://sandhillswellness.wixsite.com/sandhillswellness/suicideprevention

Beyond the Silence: A Guide to Youth Suicide Prevention

March 28th | 9:30am - 12:00pm

We often worry about the mental health of the young people in our lives, but the fear of “saying the wrong thing” can keep us silent. It’s time to break that silence.

This workshop is designed to move participants from a place of uncertainty to a place of action. You don’t need to be a doctor or a psychic to make a difference, you just need the right tools and the courage to start a conversation.

What You Will Learn

In this session, we strip away stigma and focus on practical, life-saving skills that empower adults to support youth effectively:

Spotting the Signs: Learn to identify warning signs and risk factors that are often missed.
The Art of the Conversation: Discover what to say—and what not to say—when someone may be in distress.
Prevention vs. Prediction: Understand the critical difference between trying to predict suicide and taking proactive steps to prevent a crisis.
Building a Safety Net: Explore evidence-based strategies that strengthen protective factors and create supportive environments for youth.

Why This Matters

This workshop tackles difficult but essential questions, including the ethical considerations and limitations of suicide prediction. The focus is on proactive care, early intervention, and promoting help-seeking behaviors.

By the end of this session, participants will feel more confident acting as a vital link between a young person and the support they need.

“You don't have to have all the answers to be the person who asks the right question.”

About the Presenter

Susan Tellone, RN, MSN, CSN

Susan Tellone is a Registered Nurse, Certified School Nurse, and nationally recognized educator with nearly 40 years of experience as a psychiatric nurse dedicated to suicide prevention. She holds a Master’s degree in Nursing and a Bachelor’s degree in Mental Health and Rehabilitation.

Susan has presented at conferences nationwide and played a pivotal role at Manasquan High School as Crisis Coordinator, Anti-bullying Specialist, and Master Lifelines Suicide Prevention Trainer during a period of significant teenage suicide contagion.

Her leadership roles include Vice President of the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County and Clinical Director for the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. She currently serves as Executive Director of The Samaritan Counseling Center of the Jersey Shore and is a member of the New Jersey Governor’s Council addressing mental health stigma.