In keynote talks, Dr. Freedenthal shares her personal story of suicidality, healing, and growth. Topics have included understanding suicide’s allure, defying stigma around suicidality and mental health, post-traumatic growth after a suicide attempt, fear and hope in suicide prevention, and much more. If you love someone who has suicidal thoughts, you may struggle with a profound fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. You desperately want to help, but you’re unsure of where to start. Dr Freedenthal will help guide us as you support your loved one—without sacrificing your own needs and well-being. She will help us find the answers to some of our most urgent questions, including: What are signs and clues of suicide risk? How do I talk with my loved one about their suicidal thoughts? When should I call the police? What do I say and do after a suicide attempt? What treatments for suicidality are available? How can I help the person I care about stay safe? What can I do to help them feel better, too? What can I do to cope better? What does recovery look like after a suicidal crisis? (Author of Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts)

SHERIDAN TAYLOR – Sheridan is a Canadian army combat veteran, former corrections officer and suicide survivor. He will share the anguish and rage he experienced in the darkest depths of despair and about some of the process and triumph of fighting his way out. Sheridan will also share his unique perspective on the power of hope and how he as an insecure, overcompensating, professional tough guy stopped hating the world and stopped hating himself in the process. (Author of NOT OKAY? OKAY.)

Justine is a registered psychologist and Director of Clinical Services Grief and Trauma Healing Centre in Edmonton. Her personal experience with loss has helped her discover that grief is a human experience we all have but one we don’t need to face alone. Grief has a wide range of complexity of emotions and can be difficult to navigate. Due to the very nature of the job, First Responders experience many kinds of loss and many types of grief, potentially linking to mental stressors, occupational burn out and compassion fatigue. Justine will help us see how the dynamics of grief is a natural response to loss and is part of the healing process, because at the end of your shift, there is still an ordinary person under the uniform, and you are not hardwired to go through these hard times alone.

is a mental health advocate, international keynote speaker and best selling author of four books. His writing has been published in countless national magazines and he has been featured on several television and radio programs. He has also instructed various mental health related courses at the college level and spent years working as an addiction counselor and clinical case manager.
Having persevered through his own mental health issues and addictions, Allan speaks from a place of experience. His moving stories tug on heartstrings, inspire a new perspective and allow people to connect with themselves and others at a deeper level. He uses humor and compassion to create a safe space where people feel seen, heard and supported. Allan will speak on “finding your voice”, beyond the fear of judgement or failure, and beyond the barriers of sacrificing one’s own happiness, health and future success. This includes stepping into vulnerability, connecting with oneself, understanding how men react differently to mental health issues than women and explore the relationship that exists between trauma and substance use.

Amanda is a mother of two, surviving spouse and speaker aspiring to bring mental health and suicide awareness to the forefront for first responders and military. She speaks from her own life experience through unthinkable tragedy. Amanda is sharing her story of the unexpected loss of her husband Elliott to suicide, Elliott was a 22 year Canadian Forces Veteran. She shares the raw deep emotions of losing her husband and the father, to her two young children. She explains how she has navigated her and her children’s journey through grief. As well as finding ways to support their own mental health in the brink of tragedy, while finding gratitude and light through it all. Amanda has gone on to educate herself, collecting tools to help herself through tough times and to be the beacon of HOPE, to inspire by sharing her story. Amanda believes we all need to be in this conversation together as families and as the people who serve our country and communities.