Sean Wellington

This isn’t a clinical talk. It doesn’t offer quick fixes or empty platitudes. It centers on voices that are often excluded — and models a kind of presence and perspective that doesn’t manage, rescue, or medicalize. It’s prevention - or reduction - by listening, not by control. While this interactive presentation is always customized, it typically centers on a core set of ideas: the epidemic of both suicide and loneliness; the issue with “just talk about it”; a culture of outsourcing empathy; the Silence Paradox and the Space Between; the other sides of awareness and prevention; and some simple, non-intuitive conversational tools to help people in despair or distress feel less alone. KEY TAKEAWAYS - A framework for listening without fixing or labeling or any of that yuck - The power of the 3-second silence - The three key kinds of questions to keep convos open - How the LSLA Model can be realistically applied in your lives with your people

Modeled after a conversation for a live audience at NAMI NC's annual conference, this is a unique opportunity to experience the ins and outs of these kinds of raw talks and how they aim to help people feel a little less shitty and a little less alone. While opportunities currently exist to hear from survivors, this presentation is unique in both the depth in which we discuss survivors’ lived experience as well as the chance to hear from one of our guests and/or from someone who is open to speaking from your community. This presentation includes ample time for Q&A. If you’d like, we can record this conversation and include it on our podcast! CORE CONCEPTS & KEY TAKEAWAYS - A deeper awareness of suicide and suicidality - Honest insight from those who have lived - or are living - through it - A framework for listening without fixing or labeling or any of that yuck - A call to examine how we engage with one another and how we can do better