Wichita State University, with the Wichita Journalism Collaborative and other community partners, presents the Suspenders4Hope Preventing Suicide Training at the Advanced Learning Library (711 W. 2nd St.). The free Suspenders4Hope Preventing Suicide Training takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 13. 

All are welcome to attend this free event, with particular emphasis on those who are community leaders and media influencers. Mayor Brandon Whipple, Sedgwick County Commissioner Sarah Lopez, City Councilwoman Maggie Ballard, and Ascension Via Christi President Robyn Chadwick will speak during the event, which will be led by Wichita State’s Assistant Vice President for Wellness and Chief Psychologist, Jessica Provines. 
 
The goal of this event is to unify messaging around solution-focused journalism, elevating the message of hope and resiliency when it comes to the topic of mental health and suicide. The training reminds attendees that everyone has a story to tell and about the importance of vulnerability in inspiring others to get help and reducing stigma. 
 
Registration is encouraged but not required. Free pizza and Suspenders4Hope T-shirts will be available to the first 100 registered. 

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students on its main campus and 9,000 students on its WSU Tech campuses from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.

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Wichita State University started the #WeSupportU Suspenders4Hope Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention Program in 2015 when the Counseling and Prevention Services team was awarded a SAMSHA Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention grant. The strength of the #WeSupportU program is the combination of an evidence based training, advocate program, wellness curriculum and the Suspenders4Hope awareness campaign to help create a culture that supports mental health and encourages wellness.