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Engagement in the Black Community 2022: Deconstructing Myths and Addressing Realities of Suicidal Behavior in the African American Community

Deconstructing Myths and Addressing Realities of Suicidal Behavior in the African American Community
A Recorded Webinar
Recorded on Friday, February 25, 2022

Jump to Course Contents
Description
There is an increase in suicidal behavior among African Americans. The act of suicide itself is not a diagnosis but a response to hopelessness and unbearable pain. When persons at risk for suicide are identified early, hopelessness and pain can be mitigated through evidenced-based practices. Unfortunately for some members of the African American community, the stigma surrounding psychotherapy, impact of social injustice, cultural mistrust of health professionals, and beliefs that depression and other mental disorders can be “prayed away” may serve as barriers for people accessing the help that they need. Strategies for identifying those at risk for suicidal behavior and accessing culturally sensitive care will be provided in this presentation.
Learning Objectives
  • Participants will be able to list at least three risk and protective factors for suicidal behavior among African Americans.
  • Participants will be able to identify at least three resources within the community that encourage help-seeking behavior.
  • Participants will be able to articulate the importance of accessing culturally responsive care for historically marginalized persons and persons who attach a stigma to receiving mental health therapy.

Presenters
Renata L. Nero, PhD

Renata L. Nero, PhD, is a retired professor of psychology and Sharon K. Burrows professor from Houston Baptist University (HBU). During her 25 year tenure at HBU, she served as Chair of the Psychology Department, Director of Graduate Programs in Psychology, and Program Coordinator for Pre-Professional Art Therapy and School Psychology programs. Currently, Nero is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice and Chair of the Executive Board for the Ashley Jadine Foundation – a suicide awareness and prevention organization. She is a former president of the Southwest Region Board of Directors for the Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) and holds platinum advocate membership in the Texas Psychological Association. Nero earned a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and completed pre- and post-doctoral internship training at Baylor College of Medicine.
Kathy FitzJefferies, LCSW, LCAS, CCS (Facilitator)

Kathy FitzJefferies, LCSW, LCAS, CCS, has 40 years of experience as a clinical addiction social worker. Throughout the course of her career, FitzJefferies has worked in a variety of drug treatment and mental health settings. Half her career she has spent providing substance prevention and treatment in several North Carolina school districts, including her current position as the Program Manager for Safe and Drug-Free Schools. Within her private practice, Practical Applications, FitzJefferies provides clinical supervision and facilitates educational programs. She has presented at local, state, national, and international conferences. FitzJefferies is committed to the work of racial justice within her personal, faith, and professional life. She is a member of NAADAC’s committee, the Critical Issues in the Black Community Committee.

Content Level
Beginning
Beginning level courses introduce learners to a content area; include information about a condition, treatment method, or issue; and involve learning and comprehending content.
Interactivity
Polls and Q&A.

Price
Education is FREE to all professionals.
Earn 1 Continuing Education Hour (CE)
To earn a CE Certificate for viewing this webinar, you must view the webinar in its entirety, pass the CE quiz, and complete the online survey evaluation.

  1. Upon completing the webinar, you will have access to the CE quiz within the course you are taking. Find the CE quiz and click “purchase.” NAADAC members will be prompted to register for the CE quiz for free, while non-members will be prompted to pay a $15 processing fee to access the quiz.
  2. A score of 80% or higher is required to pass the CE quiz and access your CE certificate. You have 10 opportunities to pass the quiz. If you are unable to pass the quiz in the allocated number of tries, then you must retake the course.
  3. Upon passing the CE quiz, you will be required to complete the survey evaluation for the course. Once that is completed, your CE certificate will be immediately available to print. All certificates will be stored in the NAADAC Education Center under your profile name. Click here for instructions on how to access your CE certificates.

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This webinar is eligible for ASWB ACE CE hours. Click  here for NAADAC Social Worker certificate instructions.

Who Should Attend
Addiction professionals, employee assistance professionals, social workers, mental health counselors, professional counselors, psychologists, and other helping professionals that are interested in learning about addiction-related matters.
Accessibility
Live closed captioning is available and the captioning capabilities are in compliance with the practices defined in Worldwide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. In addition, transcripts are available for on-demand webinars recorded on and after March 27, 2019.

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This presentation is for individual use only and may not be reproduced without permission from NAADAC.

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