SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Nearly 300 employees from 32 school districts across Central New York gathered at the Oncenter in Syracuse on March 31 for a landmark suicide-prevention training session.

The event, which brought together educators, administrators, counselors, and support staff from Oswego, Onondaga, Cortland, Madison, and Oneida counties, marked a “pivotal moment in the region’s ongoing commitment to tackling” suicide and mental-health issues within schools.

Oswego Health in an announcement described it as a “monumental effort to combat the growing mental health crisis among students.”

The training provided vital, actionable techniques for identifying the warning signs of suicide, intervening effectively, and creating a supportive school environment that promotes mental wellness. Attendees participated in real-life scenario discussions, focusing on pressing issues facing youth today. The issues include social media, violence, and the growing mental-health crisis.

The event culminated in applying “Ask, Listen, Respond, Follow-up” protocol, allowing participants to gain practical experience supporting students in crisis, Oswego Health said.

Oswego Health thanked the superintendents of the participating school districts, saying in the announcement, “Their unwavering support in encouraging their employees to attend this vital event further demonstrates their commitment to the well-being of their students and staff. This event would not have been possible without their leadership and dedication to fostering a culture of care within their schools. Together, we can continue building a community that prioritizes mental health and ensures every student has the resources they need to thrive.”

Organizing the session

Oswego Health says it partnered with local organizations and key stakeholders to help facilitate a training session led by Dr. Daniel Reidenberg, who Oswego Health described as one of the world’s foremost experts in suicide prevention.

Reidenberg is the managing director of the National Council for Suicide Prevention and director of safe online standards for the Mental Health Coalition as well.

He equipped Oncenter attendees with life-saving tools and strategies to recognize and address suicide-risk factors among students. Oswego Health says his “impact is felt globally,” with more than 350,000 individuals trained worldwide on effective suicide-prevention techniques.

Oswego Health also credited Onondaga County and the Lobdell Family Foundation’s support for the event’s success.

The Lobdell family, which advocates for mental-health awareness, has been “instrumental” in reshaping how mental health is addressed in the region. The family’s recent $1 million donation to Oswego Health ensures that the community will continue to have access to mental-health resources, with a focus on supporting youth and “transforming lives.” The donation is part of the Lobdell family’s dedication to improving access to mental-health care, promoting education, and supporting at-risk youth in Central New York, Oswego Health said.

Jamie Leszczynski, senior VP of communications at Oswego Health, emceed the event and shared the following message. “This training equips you all with the necessary resources to save a life. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in the United States, and mental health issues affect one in five students,” Leszczynski said. “Our schools play an instrumental role in supporting our youth. Together, we can build a stronger support system for students and prevent the tragedy of suicide in our schools. Central New York is our home; these students are our children.”

Leszczynski has a personal connection to this cause. Having tragically lost her brother, Ryan, to suicide at the age of 16, her advocacy for mental health has been a “driving force” behind this event. Her commitment to reducing stigma and increasing mental-health awareness was a “powerful motivator” in bringing this training and education to Central New York, Oswego Health said.