Join SRQ Strong to learn about the warning signs of suicide, available resources, and steps you can take to help prevent suicide. Two NAMI youth peer specialists will share how peers are using their personal experiences with self-abuse and thoughts of suicide to provide connections, help, and hope to youth and families. The Sarasota School District will describe what schools are doing to recognize and respond to youth at risk and to connect with community resources. Speakers will also be joined by two psychologists from the school district.
Featured Speakers:
Emily LaPlaca was drawn to the field of psychology because of her own experience as a child and young adult with OCD, depression, and anxiety. Emily currently works with NAMI as a Peer Support Specialist at YANA where she uses her lived experience and compassion to help others dealing with their own mental health struggles. She is a recent graduate of New College of Florida with a bachelor's degree in psychology and she is working to continue her education and pursue mental health counseling in the future.
Kelly Boucher is a Peer Recovery Support Specialist at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Kelly is also currently the president of Youth MOVE Suncoast, a peer mentor for youth and adults, and works with a local program called “Lean On Me” which includes weekly visits to various middle schools in Sarasota County to teach life skills and mental health awareness. Kelly has lived experience dealing with depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, eating disorders, and suicide ideation.
Alyssa Williams is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist for Sarasota County Schools, working in elementary and high schools with a focus on behavior interventions. She has served as a member of several crisis response teams for the district over the last two years.
Emmanuel Dansey is a full-time school psychologist for Sarasota County Schools. Emmanuel obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Sciences and Psychology, as well as a Master’s and Specialist degree in School Psychology from Florida State University. He has worked as a school psychologist for 16 years K-12, in addition to alternative schools for students with severe emotional/behavior difficulties.
Jody Smith has been an employee of the Sarasota County School District since August 2003, serving as a School Social Worker. Jody became a Registered School Suicide Prevention Specialist through the American Association of Suicidology in 2018 and went on to become a Youth Mental Health First Aide Trainer in 2019. She has served on the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition (FSPC) Board and continues to serve as one of their Regional Directors. In 2019, Jody accepted the role of Lead School Social Worker for the Sarasota County School District, a role she continues to serve and enjoy.
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