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Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center

offers Continuing Education Session

Identifying and Responding to Suicide Risk

A Zoom Session Led by Julie Guistwite

Thursday, January 22, 2026

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Suicide is a rising public health concern and leading cause of death in the United States. Suicidal persons often seek guidance from clergy over mental health professionals in times of crisis. This interactive workshop discusses key risk factors and warning signs of suicide across generations. Attendees will gain knowledge of best practices in holding serious conversations and practical skills in responding to suicidal persons through engaging vignette-based discussions.

Goal:

Participants will advance their knowledge and skills in comfortably identifying and responding to suicidal congregational/community members. 


Learning Objectives:

1.   Distinguish between suicide attempt and suicide ideation.

2.   Describe key risk factors and warning signs of suicide across generations.

3.   Describe best practices in holding serious conversations with suicidal persons.

4.   Discuss practical method of responding to suicidal persons.

5.   Sketch and role-play an interaction with a suicidal person using a vignette. 


Cost:

$35.00 (If requesting .3 CEUs)

$25.00 (no CEUs)


About the Leader:  Julie A. Guistwite, PhD, LSW, FT, CSWM Ripple of Light Bereavement Resource Center, LLC Dr. Julie A. Guistwite, LSW is the owner of Ripple of Light Bereavement Resource Center, LLC. She is an Advanced Certified Thanatologist and Certified Social Work Manager with 15 years of practice experience in healthcare settings including palliative care, hospice, and funeral home. Dr. Guistwite holds over 10 years of palliative and end-of-life care educator expertise in academic, continuing education, and community settings. She authored a Master's Level Social Work Certificate in Holistic Bereavement Care and undergraduate level palliative care course. Dr. Guistwite has worked with Penn State's Clinical and Translational Science Institute's Project ECHO. She teaches undergraduate courses in palliative care, end-of-life issues, older adults, and health policy. She developed the first scale to evaluate and refine social workers’ expertise in death, dying, and bereavement care. Areas of expertise include spirituality, thanatology, older adults, healthcare equity, and palliative care. She is passionate about improving the well-being of individuals/families through advancing providers' excellence in serious illness, end-of-life, and grief care delivery.


Please review SVMC's Cancellation Policies

The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center is a Church of the Brethren ministry partnership that includes the districts of Atlantic Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Middle Pennsylvania, Southern Pennsylvania, and Western Pennsylvania, in addition to the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and Bethany Theological Seminary. SVMC's mission is to equip leaders for ministry in a regionally based, Christ-centered, and culturally relevant context, in ways that bear witness to the beliefs, heritages, and practices of the Church of the Brethren. Visit our website at: www.etown.edu/svmc.


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