The Inaugural Zero Suicide Broward County Town Hall - Community Leaders, Mental Health Professionals And Residents Will Gather To Promote Suicide Prevention, Mental Wellness And Early Intervention

The free public event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Hazelle P. Rogers Multipurpose Community Center, 4340 Northwest 36th Street, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 33319. The gathering is designed to bring Mental Health experts, community leaders, advocates and residents together to discuss ways to strengthen suicide prevention efforts, encourage early intervention and build a more supportive community.

Organizers say the town hall will provide a forum for meaningful conversations about Mental Health challenges and the importance of recognizing when someone may need help. Through educational presentations, expert discussions and opportunities for collaboration, participants will be able to learn practical approaches to supporting individuals who may be experiencing emotional distress.

The initiative reflects a broader community effort to make suicide prevention a shared responsibility, recognizing that families, schools, workplaces, faith organizations, health care providers and community groups can all play important roles in promoting mental wellness.

The program will feature educational sessions addressing SafeTALK, Talk Saves Lives and Adverse Childhood Experiences, commonly known as ACEs. These topics are intended to help attendees better understand suicide prevention, recognize potential warning signs and appreciate how difficult childhood experiences can affect emotional well-being.

SafeTALK is a suicide-alertness training approach that helps people recognize individuals who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide and connect them with appropriate resources. Talk Saves Lives, an educational program developed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, focuses on suicide risk factors, warning signs and prevention strategies. Discussions about ACEs examine how potentially traumatic experiences during childhood can influence health and well-being later in life.

Together, these subjects will offer participants practical information they can apply in their families, professional settings and everyday interactions with others.

Cassandra Evans of the Broward County Community Partnerships Division will serve as moderator. The program will include speakers, a panel of experts and community advocates representing organizations involved in behavioral health, education, public safety, suicide prevention and family services.

Among the scheduled panelists are Dr. Francisco Isaza of 2-1-1 Broward; Paul Jaquith of the Mental Health Association of Southeast Florida; Laura Castro of Henderson Behavioral Health; and Captain Juan Velez of the City of Lauderhill.

Other panel participants include Marisa Sotelo of Broward County Public Schools; Jessica Jackson of Sandy Hook Promise; Lara Underwood of NAMI Broward; Alan Mednick of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Shantigra “Shae” Williams of the Children’s Services Council; Sonia Phillip of The Fire Watch; and Aisha T. McDonald of United Way Broward.

The range of participating organizations reflects the many settings in which suicide prevention and Mental Health Awareness are important. Schools, community agencies, Veterans’ Organizations, public safety departments and behavioral health providers can each contribute different perspectives and resources to prevention efforts.

The speaker program will also feature Lauderdale Lakes Mayor Veronica Edwards Phillips, along with Suzette Fleischmann of the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition and Jessica Durant of the Department of Children & Families’ Substance Abuse & Mental Health Southeast Region.

Additional speakers include Alan Mednick and Aisha T. McDonald, as well as Maggie de Cambre Borges of United Way Broward and Dr. Joan Osborne, a Broward Suicide Prevention Coalition member and family representative. Their participation will contribute professional and community perspectives to the discussion.

By bringing these voices together, organizers hope to encourage stronger partnerships among individuals and organizations working to improve mental health services, increase awareness and make support more accessible to people who need it.

The town hall is open to a broad cross-section of the community. Parents, students, educators, veterans, first responders, faith leaders, health care professionals and other residents interested in creating a healthier Broward County are encouraged to attend.

For families, the event offers an opportunity to learn more about mental wellness and how to approach difficult conversations with loved ones. Educators and youth-serving professionals may gain information that can help them identify concerns and connect students with appropriate assistance. Community leaders and service providers can use the gathering to exchange ideas and strengthen connections with organizations working toward similar goals.

Suicide prevention efforts often depend on people recognizing warning signs, taking concerns seriously and helping individuals reach appropriate support. Educational programs and community partnerships can help reduce uncertainty about how to respond when someone is struggling. They can also reinforce the message that mental health concerns deserve attention and that seeking assistance should be encouraged rather than stigmatized.

The inaugural Zero Suicide Broward County Town Hall is intended to advance those conversations while creating opportunities for residents and professionals to work together toward a common goal.

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided during the four-hour event, giving participants additional opportunities to connect with fellow attendees and representatives of participating organizations.

Advance registration is available online through United Way Broward at: https://www.unitedwaybroward.org/zero-suicide-broward-county-inaugural-town-hall-meeting.

The Saturday, October 24th, 2026 gathering offers Broward County residents an opportunity to become more informed about suicide prevention, learn about available approaches to mental wellness and take part in a community wide effort to encourage earlier intervention and stronger support for those facing emotional and Mental Health challenges.

Organizers invite residents to participate in the conversation and help foster a community in which mental wellness is a priority and people experiencing difficulties are met with understanding, compassion and access to help.

About United Way Broward’s Coalition on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention

United Way Broward’s Coalition on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention is a broad-based substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion coalition dedicated to reducing negative consequences on individuals, families, and communities. Today, its primary role is to serve as a coalition-building organization that brokers partnerships between federal, state, and local agencies to foster, develop, and enhance integrated behavioral health efforts throughout Broward County, while searching for innovative and effective ways to address the issue of substance misuse. The Coalition on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention is a vital component of United Way Broward’s four impact areas (strengthening local resilience, advancing health, youth opportunity, and financial security) focused on the solutions to close gaps in services and create a better life for all. For more information, please visit: www.drugfreebroward.org. Or follow us on Social Media at: www.facebook.com/uwbcoalition. Or on Twitter/Instagram @UWBCoalition.