Annual Suicide Prevention Conference 2022
Facilitators
Keynote Speakers
CHRIS STANLEY
COMMISSIONING MANAGER, PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTION (STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL)
Chris Stanley, PhD, BSc (Hons) is a biologist by background, but has worked in various aspects of public health in Staffordshire since 2009 (mainly tobacco control and sexual health) and has been the County Council Public Mental Health lead since 2020.
Chris’ role includes both mental wellbeing more broadly, and suicide prevention more specifically, and he supports the ongoing Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Suicide Prevention Partnership.
KELLY GIBBONS, SUICIDE PREVENTION LEAD, Senior Quality Improvement Manager, NHS England and NHS Improvement – Midlands Clinical Network.
Suicide Prevention Lead Senior Quality Improvement Manager, NHS England and NHS Improvement – Midlands Clinical Network.
I am a social worker and Approved Mental Health Professional working within adult mental health services for the duration of my career. Working both within the Local Authority and NHS. My interest in suicide prevention stems from working within crisis resolution and home treatment and a passion for developing services by improving knowledge, skills and learning lessons.
Within my role as Suicide Prevention Lead, I support the Midlands region to develop and deliver their multi agency suicide prevention plans. Supporting in sharing good practice and collaborative working across the region. Working with the other national organisations involved with the national suicide prevention programme, to coordinate support to the STPs and overarching work on suicide prevention and reduction. Whilst supporting the monitoring and assurance of funding and progress for the STPs in receipt of transformation funding in their region.
SARAH GRAY
Programme Manager, for the Adults and Communities Team, Public Health team, stoke on trent Council.
Sarah has been working in Public Health since the 1st Jan 2020, but have worked for the City Council for over 25 years. Sarah joined Public Health as the world went into a global pandemic, so had an unexpected crash course in epidemiology and all things public health, and became part of the Covid Cell response, including managing our Contact Tracing team. Prior to that, Sarah was a manager and officer for many years in various roles, including Housing, Rental Income and Accounting, Enforcement, Co-operative working and Child Protection, Environmental Crime, and Anti-social behaviour.
Sarah has front line experience of the effect that crime, addition, mental health, bereavement, etc. can cause and now works in a role that allows me the privilege to trying to do preventative work around these issues, working with our partners within the ongoing Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Suicide Prevention Partnership. Sarah's team consists of herself as the Programme Manager, Jessica Evans – Senior Public Health Officer, and Darren Holmes – Public Health Officer.