News

On March 31, 2025, Central New York will witness a landmark event as nearly 300 school personnel from 31 school districts spanning Onondaga, Oswego, Cortland, and Madison counties come together for the first-ever suicide prevention training tailored specifically for school personnel. This event, held at the OnCenter in Syracuse, is set to provide critical tools and resources to help educators, administrators, counselors, and support staff better address students' mental health challenges.

This event is proudly sponsored by The Lobdell Family, Oswego Health, and Onondaga County—focusing on supporting students' mental health and wellness throughout the region. The Lobdell family has been a driving force in transforming the way mental health is approached in this area. Their recent $1 million donation to Oswego Health is a testament to their long-standing commitment to creating lasting change in our community. This generous gift is focused on improving access to mental health resources, offering education, and ensuring that support is available for anyone in need—especially the youth of Central New York.

A central part of this initiative is the March 31st training, which will be led by Dr. Daniel Reidenberg, a globally renowned expert in suicide prevention. As the Managing Director of the National Council for Suicide Prevention, the Safe Online Standards Director for the Mental Health Coalition, and a key figure in the International Association for Suicide Prevention, Dr. Reidenberg has worked tirelessly to develop strategies that help prevent suicide and support those struggling with mental health issues. His impact has been far-reaching, with over 350,000 people trained worldwide in suicide prevention techniques.

Dr. Reidenberg’s leadership in the development of the U.S. National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and the LEADS for Youth program—the only evidence-based suicide prevention program for schools—will provide local school staff with the expertise and resources they need to protect students from the growing threat of suicide.

The Lobdell family's support of this event and their broader commitment to mental health underscores their belief in breaking down barriers and eliminating stigma surrounding mental health struggles. Their $1 million donation to Oswego Health is dedicated to supporting individuals across Central New York, focusing on students and school staff. The Lobdells understand that a proactive approach to mental health and wellness can make all the difference in reducing risks, fostering positive outcomes, and ultimately saving lives.

The March 31st event will provide essential, actionable tools to school personnel, equipping them with the knowledge to recognize the warning signs of suicide, intervene effectively, and create a safer, more supportive environment for students. This training is especially important considering that suicide is the

second leading cause of death among young people in the U.S., with one in five students affected by mental health issues that can lead to suicidal ideation.

Event Details:

• Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
• Time:

• • 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.: Media Interviews with Vinny Lobdell and Dr. Daniel Reidenberg
  • 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.: Training Session on Best Practices for Schools—key concepts and strategies for recognizing and supporting students at risk
  • 10:45-11:15 a.m.: Group Activity - review scenarios to identify risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs. Groups will be asked to use the lecture's Ask, Listen, Respond, Follow-up protocol to discuss how they would handle the scenario.
  • 11:15-11:50 a.m.: Postvention, Hot Topics - focused discussion on pressing issues facing youth, parents, and educators, such as: guns and violence, mental health issues, social media, etc., that increase the risk of suicidal ideation. Also an overview of the Safe Online Standards (SOS) program aimed at promoting responsible social media use.

• Location: OnCenter, 800 South State Street, Syracuse, NY

Why This Matters:

This training is an essential step toward addressing the mental health crisis in our schools. The Lobdell Family's commitment to mental health through their $1 million donation and the Oswego Health collaboration has created a unique opportunity for school personnel to come together and be part of a much-needed solution to prevent suicide and promote mental wellness. With nearly 300 attendees expected, this event brings together school administrators, counselors, teachers, bus drivers, and other school personnel to collaborate on the critical issue of student mental health.

By joining this training, school staff will be able to learn from one of the leading voices in suicide prevention, Dr. Daniel Reidenberg. Dr. Reidenberg’s training will introduce participants to evidence-based suicide prevention strategies, including the Ask, Listen, Respond, Follow-up protocol, which will be used during the group activities. Participants will also be able to work in small groups, applying these strategies to real-life scenarios to understand how to best support students in crisis.

Dr. Daniel Reidenberg’s Background:

Dr. Reidenberg is a leading expert in suicide prevention, mental health, and suicide postvention. He has worked with over 350,000 individuals worldwide, training communities, educators, healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies, and corporations. Dr. Reidenberg is known for his work in developing strategies to prevent suicide, including his role in shaping national suicide prevention programs and creating one of the only evidence-based programs for schools—LEADS for Youth. He has authored over 60 articles and 6 book chapters, and the World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization, and top global technology companies have sought his expertise.

Dr. Reidenberg’s approach has revolutionized how mental health crises, especially suicide, are addressed across multiple sectors. His work has included collaboration with the media on responsible reporting and developing tools to help technology companies address mental health risks online. His influence has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Champion of Change recognition from the Obama Administration.