about

Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition Subcommittees

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The Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition (KSPC) is made up of four subcommittees, each with a different focus around the same goal. Our subcommittees meet each month for one hour to share resources, build tools, and explore ways to reduce suicide and promote mental health in Kansas.

Join a KSPC Subcommittee

KSPC Subcommittee

Lived Experience

The Lived Experience Subcommittee ensures that the voices of those with personal experience of suicide are centered in all we do. By elevating these perspectives, we inform KSPC's work with authenticity, compassion, and real-world insight. Through storytelling, advocacy, and meaningful engagement, we reduce stigma, shape better programming, and ensure that those most impacted are guiding the path forward in suicide prevention across Kansas.

Meeting Schedule

First Wednesday of the month
3:00-4:00PM
Virtual

Committee Chair

Melissa Owen
melissa.owen@hopelinks.org

KSPC Subcommittee

Connected and Accessible Services

Keeping communities safe means providing the right support during a crisis. Connected and Accessible Services builds a coordinated system of care before, during, and after a suicide crisis. Strengthening intervention, improving care pathways, and integrating behavioral health, healthcare, and community supports to close gaps. Through local capacity-building, training, and system-wide coordination, we can ensure more people get timely help and build communities better equipped to respond to suicide risk.

Meeting Schedule

Second Monday of each month
3:30-4:30PM
Virtual

Committee Chair

Kane Sheek
ksheek@dccca.org

KSPC Subcommittee

Youth Art Contest

The Youth Art Contest Subcommittee harnesses the power of creative expression to engage Kansas students in suicide prevention each spring semester. By coordinating a statewide art contest, we provide young people a platform to share messages of hope, connection, and resilience. Through outreach, judging, and celebration of student artists, we amplify youth voices, reduce stigma, and spark vital conversations about mental health in schools and communities across Kansas.

Meeting Schedule

Second Tuesday of each month
9:00-10:00AM
Virtual

Committee Chair

Jennifer Slagle
jennifer.slagle@ag.ks.gov

KSPC Subcommittee

SUrveillance, Research, and Evaluation

Timely, accurate information is key to effective suicide prevention. Surveillance, Research, and Evaluation improves data access through frequent reporting, evaluates what works, and supports research to guide care. Using data wisely helps us make better decisions, deliver timely programs, and ensure support is available when it's needed most.

Meeting Schedule

Second Thursday of each month
3:00-4:00PM
Virtual

Committee Chair

Monica Rueber
monica.rueber@ambermed.com

KSPC Subcommittee

Community Centered Care

Preventing suicide and supporting mental health requires a collective effort. Community-Centered Care meets people where they are, respecting their communities and individual experiences. Through strong partnerships, cross-sector coordination, and evidence-based practices, we can spread hope, reduce stigma, and improve access to care. Together, these efforts build connection and foster safer, healthier communities for all.

Meeting Schedule

Second Tuesday of each month
3:00-4:00PM
Virtual

Committee Chair

Lisa Orrison
orrisonl@usd308.com

KSPC Subcommittee

Upstream Prevention

Preventing suicide starts well before a crisis. Upstream Prevention breaks down stigma, sparks open conversations, and actively engages communities to improve overall well-being. By addressing root causes of stress and strengthening protective factors at every level (system, community, and individual) we build resilience and foster connection, wellness, and support before challenges escalate into crisis.

Meeting Schedule

Third Thursday of each month
2:00-3:00PM
Virtual

Committee Chair

Kane Sheek
ksheek@dccca.org

Our Partners

KSPC is comprised of a diverse group of partners, ranging from non-profits, government agencies, advocacy groups, and universities. We work to bring an array of people together with a shared mission to prevent suicide in Kansas.

Our Partners