2025 Annual National Suicide Prevention Conference


Lean In and Listen

Hosted by the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP), this conference provides a forum for diverse perspectives including researchers, front-line clinicians, individuals with lived experience, First People’s teachings, and sector professionals from across the country.  

With this year’s theme, ‘Lean In and Listen,’ we strive to foster conversations that enhance understanding, inspire transformative change, and advocate for inclusive, evidence-based practices.

Keynote Speakers

A veteran broadcaster and former host of TSN’s Off The Record, Michael Landsberg is as brash, witty, and smart as you’d expect—but that’s not all. He’s also one of the country’s most staunch and vocal mental health advocates. After publicly talking about his own struggle with depression for decades, Landsberg founded #SickNotWeak: a nonprofit dedicated to eradicating stigma and building community. In talks, he shows us that the road to healing begins with non-judgemental conversation.

In his documentary Darkness and Hope: Depression, Sports, and Me, Landsberg opened up about his own struggles with depression, as well as interviewing famous guests about their own battles. Darkness and Hope was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award, and Landsberg was personally honored with the organization’s Humanitarian Award. The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health also named Landsberg one of its Champions of Mental Health.

“Dr. Sally” is a clinical psychologist and award-winning mental health advocate with lived experience of losing her beloved brother to suicide. As the co-founder and President of United Suicide Survivors International, Sally’s mission is to give voice to people with lived experiences of mental health challenges including addiction, trauma, and suicide. Dr. Sally’s goal is to help those in despair to rekindle a passion for living. Her approach is to empower leaders and communities to implement innovative, comprehensive, and sustainable strategies for mental health promotion, addiction recovery, and suicide prevention.

Dr. Sally is the lead author of the National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention and co-founder of “Man Therapy”. She also co-edited the Guts, Grit & the Grind book series that provides men and the people who love them with tools to help them better understand and cope with life’s challenges. Her leadership experiences include past Executive Secretary of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Executive Board Member of the American Association of Suicidology, Co-Chair for the Lived Experience Advisory Committee for 988, and many other board and Chair positions at the national level. 

Supporter Sponsor

Roots of Hope

Friend Sponsor

Exhibitors

Program Information

This year’s conference theme is “Lean In and Listen” and will include plenary and breakout sessions covering five streams.

Indigenous/Life Promotion – for example: life promotion, innovative programming, Indigenous groups globally, ‘hope, healing and ceremony’, Truth & Reconciliation.

People with Lived Experience – for example: prevention, intervention, postvention, suicide bereavement, traumatic bereavement, prolonged grief disorder.

Populations – for example: LGBTQ2S+, BIPOC, men, post-secondary students, seniors, people with disabilities, intersectional programming, people living with mental illness, immigrants/refugees/newcomers.

Occupations – for example: first responders, hospitality industry, farmers, healthcare professionals, military/veterans, construction workers, legal professionals.

Research & Trends – for example: global trends, best practices / evidence-based practices, innovation, trauma informed practice, intersectional programming, medical assistance in dying for mental illness, DSM-6, ethics, means restriction, national and provincial strategies.

May 13, 2025 Pre-Conference Healing Day Workshops & Events (Further Details)

May 14, 2025

9:00am-3:30pm: Opening Ceremonies, Breakout Sessions, Keynote Speakers

3:30pm-4:00pm Connect & Converse

May 15, 2025

9:00am-3:30pm: Breakout Sessions & Keynote Speakers

May 16, 2025

9:00am-12:00pm: Breakout Sessions, Keynote Speaker & Closing Plenary

COMING SOON! Subscribe to our free newsletter to be apprised when registration opens and our program is released.

Registration prices do not include the cost of transportation and accommodations.

  • Light breakfast Wednesday-Friday.
  • Light refreshments during afternoon breaks Wednesday and Thursday.
  • Lunch on Wednesday and Thursday.
  • Welcome reception on Wednesday from 4:00pm – 5:30pm.
  • Connect & Converse on Wednesday & Thursday.
  • Remembrance Ceremony on Thursday.

REFUND POLICY: The event platform fees are NOT refundable. The ticket price is refundable up to May 1, 2025. After that date, there are NO refunds, but the ticket purchaser can transfer the ticket to another person. 

Healing Day is for anyone with experiences of suicide thoughts, behaviours or loss. If you are a person with lived experience, a family member, a friend, a clinician, a caregiver or a researcher impacted by suicide, we welcome you to join us for a day of reflection, hope and healing. This pre-conference day provides attendees with experiential workshops and sessions that offer new tools and resources to support our unique healing journeys.

Healing Day Location: Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites 600 Highway 7, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, L4B 1B2

Hotel Accommodations

We recommend booking your accommodations prior to buying your registration since tickets are not fully refundable and the hotels could be fully booked – please read our registration/ticket refund policy.

The conference is taking place at Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites 600 Highway 7, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, L4B 1B2.

Discount code – Once registration opens, we will provide a link to a discounted rate at the venue hotel. Rooms are limited and this link expires when the discounted rooms are sold out or on April 21, 2025, whichever comes first. If you are able to book a room for some of the nights of your stay but not all of the nights, please contact us and we might be able to help.

Parking

Complimentary On-Site Parking. Parking available in front of hotel, and 3 levels of additional underground parking available in the attached parking garage. Parking charges are subject to change.

FAQ

  • This conference is not accredited and does not qualify for continuing education credits.  
  • This is an in-person only event.
  • We are a charitable organization and, unfortunately, we do not have the financial resources to subsidize attendance for the conference.
  • The fees charged on the tickets are NOT refundable. The ticket price is refundable up to May 1, 2025. After that date, there are NO refunds, but you can transfer your ticket to another person. The purchaser of the ticket can request the transfer.
  • We do not sell tickets for one day only.