Gail Urso, Cofounder of Kevin’s Song, named The American Association of Suicidology 2023 Loss Survivor Award Recipient

The American Association of Suicidology (AAS), the world’s largest membership-based suicide prevention organization, has announced that Gail Urso, Cofounder of Kevin’s Song, is the recipient of the 2023 Loss Survivor Award. The award was presented in April at the 56th Annual AAS Conference in Portland, Oregon.

“We received more than sixty submissions from across the world for 2023 Annual Awards and we could not be prouder of this year’s winners,” said AAS President & CEO Leeann Sherman, MPS, CAE. “Due to her extraordinary commitment to supporting other families, Gail stands out among the many courageous and generous loss survivors active in our community. We are happy to present her with this prestigious award.”

The Loss Survivor Award has been given since 1995 to acknowledge ways in which survivors of suicide transform the trauma of their loss into suicide prevention efforts and/or survivor support.

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THANK YOU for making the 2023 Kevin’s Song Conference on Suicide a success!

In spite of the wintry weather, over 300 people from across Michigan and the nation gathered in Plymouth, Michigan with Kevin’s Song, for an in-person conference to combat suicide. Mental health professionals, educators, first responders, government representatives, suicide prevention advocates and survivors met to discuss innovative ways to identify those at risk, to better treat and help those struggling and to provide hope and support for survivors.

2023 Keynote Presentation Videos now available for viewing.

Click below for 2023 Conference Program Booklet

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Kevin’s Song’s three-day 7th Annual Conference on Suicide and School Summit: Building Roads to a Better Tomorrow, held at Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth, Michigan, took place January 26-28.

It is difficult to express the gratitude we feel for the spectacular event that the conference was. Approximately 450 people attended in person and over 1900 people viewed the session that was live-streamed by Detroit Public Television on Saturday, Survivor Day.

We want to express our sincerest thanks to Leo Nouhan, who once again did an outstanding job of coordinating the conference, to the Conference Planning Committee and the School Summit Committee who worked all year to put together this amazingly impactful three-day event, to the professional speakers who came from far and wide to participate, to our many volunteers, and, of course, to all who attended.

Thank vou to our Board of Directors for their passion and commitment to our mission and to the conference.

Thank vou to all who financially supported the conference through conference sponsorships and donations, as well as sponsorships and support for Starry, Starry Night 2022!

John McTaggart did another excellent job of capturing people and moments with over 200 wonderful photos. They have been shared on the Kevin’s Song’s Facebook page and are posted on our website. In addition, many of the attendees have posted their own photos of the conference on social media platforms.

Josh Jackman from MarxLayne did a great job of posting throughout the conference on all of our social media platforms.

We know that many of you who were not able to be with us followed his posts. MarxLayne hosted the Thursday evening reception, and they were all there to enjoy the evening with us. Thank you to them for their great work in helping us bring the conference and school summit to so many people.

Detroit Public Television did another great job as well. Rich Homberg was there to support his team and all of us! All of the keynote speeches were videotaped and will be available to view on our website.

Saint John’s Resort was once again an ideal venue for us. Attendees frequently commented on how perfect it is. The food and the service were outstanding. Fortunately, the facility is being expanded so should continue to meet our needs for years to come.

It’s difficult to convey all of the positive comments received verbally from the attendees. Hopefully, they will be repeated in written comments. Here are two comments. The first is from an attendee: “It was a beautiful conference. Impactful, challenging, and thought provoking.” And from a keynote speaker: “Connecting with colleagues and other mental health experts are among the joys of attending the Kevin’s Song 7th Annual Conference on Suicide.”

Thank you for your support, commitment to Kevin’s Song, passion for our mission and help in so many ways.

We are making a difference!

With gratitude,

Gail and John Urso
Cofounders, Kevin’s Song

Click here to view all photos from the event

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Our new 2022 Ambassador Video

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View Conference Videos from 2022 and 2021

Our Mission: Empowering communities to prevent suicide and offering hope and healing to survivors.

We founded Kevin’s Song in 2013, as a 501-c-3 non-profit, to honor our son, Kevin, who lost his life to suicide when he was just forty-one.

Proudly, Kevin’s Song has grown into a recognized resource so that individuals and communities can come together to learn about the latest research share their experiences and network with others who care about suicide awareness and prevention. Please join us so that we can make our vision of a world without suicide a reality…..Gail & John Urso

The Lifeline and 988

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States.

When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary. Read More Here

“SUICIDE – THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD of ALL DEATHS” by Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser

When a suicide occurs, we aren’t just left with the loss of a person, we’re also left with a legacy of anger, second guessing and fearful anxiety.

To read this important article, please click here.

Survivor of Suicide Handbook

This is a handbook, published by the American Association of Suicidology, is for people who have lost a loved one to suicide, written by someone who has suffered the same loss.

To read this important article, please click here.

Giving Purpose to Pain: An Honest Conversation with Suicide Loss Survivors

Suicide loss is often a shocking, painful and unexpected experience. The grief experience can be intense, complex, and a deeply personal, unique process. Each survivor of suicide will experience it in their own way and at their own pace.

Kevin Song advisor, Amelia Lehto, moderates this diverse panel of suicide loss survivors who will discuss how they find themselves navigating their journey, sharing their personal experiences, and surviving the pain of suicide loss. This panel discussion was part of the 2022 Conference on Suicide and streamed on FACEBOOK LIVE (click to watch).

Additional Information

Please Listen… Students Talk About Mental Health and Suicide Awareness

Rates of suicide continue to rise across the demographic spectrum and certainly among school-age youth. For years, suicide and mental health issues were subjects to be avoided, hidden behind a veil of stigma or fear. Now, hopefully we know differently. But in our conversations, are we really hearing what students have to say about anxiety, depression, mental health or the pain their friends and peers are feeling. What do they want from teachers, parents and the others in their lives?

As part of the national Well Beings Tour, Detroit Public TV is teaming with Kevin’s Song and other local organizations to create a virtual conversation addressing their vital, often life-saving issues. We will listen to a diverse group of students who will talk about their lives, their feelings and their concerns. And we will respond.

Book of The Month

Emotions Coloring Book for Kids

About this coloring book:
★ Beautiful simple Illustrations.
★ The perfect size: The book comes in a squared print format of size 8.5 x 11 inches.
★ This book is suitable for both boys and girls, preferably ages 3-8.
★ Great for all coloring mediums. White-Color HighQuality Paper For pencil colors, crayons, or markers.
★ The pages have designs on one side to prevent the coloring from bleeding through to the other side, and so the pages can be removed and hung up without losing the picture on the reverse side.

Order Now Library

Self Care

Create a little oasis of calm and happiness with this serene coloring book.
★ Each page contains a beautifully illustrated self-care affirmation, so that as you color, you’re reminded to treat yourself, ditch the ”should,” and love who you are becoming.
★ Affirmations include ”You Are Enough,” ”Be You, Do You, for You,” ”Be Kind to Your Mind,” and 28 more.
★ 31 complex yet relaxing pages in all!
★ Heavyweight paper is superior to that of other coloring books.
★ Designs are printed on only one side of a page — no bleed-through.
★ Each page is micro-perforated for ease of removal and display of your artwork.
★ Acid-free archival-quality paper helps preserve your work.
★ For artists and colorists of all abilities!
★ Coloring book measures 9-1/2” wide x 9” high.

Order Now Library

Dr. Brian Ahmedani and Nancy Buyle, Co-Chairs of the Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission and members of the With One Voice Advisory Board updated Kevin’s Song Conference attendees on the Commission’s progress to date, including focus group findings, the timetable for presenting recommendations to the full Commission in March, and work to date by the four sub-committees: Policy… Data… Special Populations… and the Work Force.

If you’d like to follow the work of the Commission, it meets on the third Friday of every month at 10:30 AM. Or, you can contact James Bell at bellj10@michigan.gov.

Watch the March 24, 2021 virtual meeting:

Resources for Ideas and Inspiration:

Kevin's Song Newsletters

Our Newsletter is published and emailed monthly to our growing list of sponsors, supporters and friends. If you’d like to be added to our email list, contact gail@kevinssong.org. If we hope to achieve our vision of “a world without suicide” we need you with us.

View current edition

View past editions

“We Need to Talk” is a 30-minute film produced by Kevin’s Song and funded by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Klingler Family Foundation. The film documents effective suicide prevention initiatives being used in schools and communities. Profiled in this video are the Prepare-U curriculum at West Bloomfield High School, The U-Matter teen program developed by Rabbi Yarden Blumstein for Friendship Circle, the University of Michigan’s Peer-To-Peer school outreach program and The SHED, an after-school facility for youth recently opened by Dennis Liegghio, founder of Know Resolve.

View Video

“Saving Lives, Preventing Youth Suicide”

Conceived by Kevin’s Song and sponsored by the Children’s Foundation, this 3-part series was produced in partnership with Detroit Public Television. Hosted by prominent Michigan journalist, Cynthia Canty each 60-minute program includes interviews with mental health professionals, educators and community leaders and covers topics ranging from the impact of social media on youth to building resilience to successful intervention strategies.

View Programs

Videos

“Singing Kevin’s Song” Interviews with a high school counsellor, a former collegiate athlete, a researcher, and the parents of a high school student lost to suicide reveal their personal and painful insights into dealing with the suicide epidemic. Produced by James McGovern. (28 minutes)

Click here to view

“Death is Not the Answer”. Award winning producer-director Keith Famie tackles the tough issues of understanding depression and mental illness. (58 minutes).

Click here to view

“The S Word”. The stigma that so often prevents honest discussion, and often times death, is the subject of this compelling documentary by Lisa Klein. (98 minutes)

Click here to view

Podcasts

“Life After Suicide”- Dr. Jennifer Ashton. Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News’ Chief Medical Correspondent, draws from her own tragic experience to explore the aftermath of suicide and sudden loss, and, like her new book “Life After Suicide,” the podcast offers a six-part roadmap for survivors.