Annual Education Summit
Michigan’s largest and widely respected symposium directly focusing on suicide — the Kevin’s Song 10th Annual Suicide Prevention Education Summit, The Power of 10: A Legacy of Hope • A Future of Possibility, returns January 22 – 23, 2026 to the St. John’s Resort located at 44045 Five Mile Rd. in Plymouth, Michigan.This year, the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHA) is proud to join Kevin’s Song as a partner in the 2026 Kevin’s Song Education Summit.
Kevin’s Song and representatives from community mental health organizations around the state have worked together to offer a variety of sessions that will enable clinicians and mental health advocates to better serve communities and individuals in crisis and at risk for suicidal ideation. This is your chance to obtain valuable, evidence based strategies to address the increasing incidents of suicide and self-harm among African American youth, working aged men, veterans, seniors and the LGBTQ+ communities.
Drawing on its rich history of education about suicide and prevention, this 10th annual summit will offer a variety of keynote and breakout sessions providing many options to learn about evidenced-based prevention programs as well as practical and effective tools and treatments aimed at assisting at-risk individuals and communities. The summit will also provide support for survivors of suicide loss and those with a lived experience of suicide.
As we know, suicide is a leading cause of death in many age groups and within our own state, but we have not been making great strides in decreasing rates.The desire to provide more education to clinicians, suicide prevention advocates, teachers, and school counselors and to people directly impacted by suicide loss is why Kevin’s Song has taken a lead in Michigan for the past 10 years, with its annual educational summit to SAVE LIVES.
Day 1 Event Schedule
2026 Youth Mental Health & School Summit
Day 2 Event Schedule
2026 Suicide Prevention Education Summit
Who’s Invited
Participants in the 10th Annual Kevin’s Song Suicide Prevention Education Summit will gather in-person from all around the State of Michigan – from Metro Detroit to Marquette and from Grand Rapids to Bay City.
Participants Will Include:
- Educators / Teachers
- Parents / Family Members
- Psychologists /Social Workers / Licensed Counselors
- Physicians / Nurses / Medical Professionals
- Crisis Center Workers
- First Responders / Law Enforcement and Firefighters
- Policymakers
- Loss Survivors
- Employers/Human Resource Professionals
- Veterans and Veteran Support Groups
- People with Lived Experience
- Members of the General Public
- Professional Trainees and Students
The first day is the Youth Mental Health and School Summit, which will focus on integrating schools, together with youth-serving organizations and clinicians, to promote suicide prevention and mental well-being. Presentations will appeal to educators, mental health professionals and suicide prevention advocates who work with young people to build awareness and to share prevention strategies that are tailored to this diverse population. The Day will also include the stories of loss survivors and their journey through grief to hope.
The program for the second day will include an array of powerful presentations that engage clinicians and suicide prevention advocates to enhance their knowledge and skills to prevent suicide. Attendees will hear the latest in research about suicide and risk assessment as well as evidenced-based treatments and prevention strategies to better serve individuals and communities at risk. The program will also include the stories of loss and attempt survivors and their journeys through grief to hope.
Throughout the education summit, attendees may visit the Memorial Forest – a quiet place dedicated to those whose lives were prematurely ended. It is a place of solace, in the middle of a busy conference center, filled with lighted trees adorned with the names of those loss and those honored. Attendees are invited to remember their loved ones with a personalized ornament.
Registration Information:
Early Bird Price: $375 (through 12/31/2025)
Regular Price: $500 (on or after 1/1/2026)
This 2-Day Registration: THURSDAY: Youth Mental Health & School Summit AND FRIDAY: Suicide Prevention Education Summit – provides you with a program bag and conference packet, admission to all keynote presentations and breakout sessions, breakfast and lunch each day and complimentary Thursday Afternoon Reception.
Early Bird Price: $225 (through 12/31/2025)
Regular Price: $275 (on or after 1/1/2026)
Registration for the THURSDAY: Youth Mental Health and School Summit provides you with a program bag and conference packet, admission to all keynote presentations and breakout sessions. Includes breakfast, lunch and beverages. Also includes complimentary Thursday afternoon Reception.
Early Bird Price: $200 (through 12/31/2025)
Regular Price: $250 (on or after 1/1/2026)
Registration for the FRIDAY: Suicide Prevention Education Summit provides you with a program bag and conference packet, admission to all keynote presentations and breakout sessions. Includes breakfast, lunch and beverages.
Student ID Must be Presented at Check-In.
Early Bird Price: $140 (through 12/31/2025)
Regular Price: $140 (on or after 1/1/2026)
This 2-Day Student Registration: THURSDAY: Youth Mental Health & School Summit AND FRIDAY: Suicide Prevention Education Summit – provides you with a program bag and conference packet, admission to all keynote presentations and breakout sessions, breakfast and lunch each day and complimentary Thursday Afternoon Reception.
Student ID Must be Presented at Check-In.
Early Bird Price: $75 (through 12/31/2025)
Regular Price: $75 (on or after 1/1/2026)
Student Registration for the THURSDAY: Youth Mental Health and School Summit provides you with a program bag and conference packet, admission to all keynote presentations and breakout sessions. Includes breakfast, lunch and beverages. Also includes complimentary Thursday afternoon Reception.
Student ID Must be Presented at Check-In.
Early Bird Price: $70 (through 12/31/2025)
Regular Price: $70 (on or after 1/1/2026)
Registration for the FRIDAY: Suicide Prevention Education Summit provides you with a program bag and conference packet, admission to all keynote presentations and breakout sessions. Includes breakfast, lunch and beverages.
January 22, 2026 – 6:30- 8:30 pm
$40 Requires Separate Ticket
A limited number of scholarships are available to individuals with a financial hardship. Conference scholarships will cover conference registration fees only.
Deadline to request scholarship: Friday, January 16, 2026
The scholarship application form is below. Contact Susan Francis at sumfrancis1@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Kevin’s Song has reserved a block of rooms at SAINT JOHN’S RESORT HOTEL – 44045 Five Mile Road, Plymouth, Michigan 48170. For reservations call 734-414-0600 and mention “Kevin’s Song Foundation” to receive special nightly rate of $179, plus applicable fees and taxes. GROUP CODE: KE012026A
For the Kevins Song Group online reservation website: CLICK HERE:
Continuing Education Information Coming Soon
Cancellation Policy:
- Fees for registration if applicable must be paid in full prior to the event date.
- Substitutions are encouraged and preferred.
- No refunds will be issued for cancellations received less than 10 calendar days prior to the event start date and all unpaid invoices will be due in full.
- No refunds will be issued for no-shows and all unpaid invoices will be due in full.
- Cancellations will only be considered when received in writing. Telephone requests will not be honored.
- Please email your cancellation requests to: Leo@kevinssong.org
Questions about Registration or Continuing Education?
General Questions about the conference, the program, or the training opportunities? Email Leo@kevinssong.org
