Joanne L Harpel, Mphil, CT, JD
suicide bereavement & Postvention specialist
Training & Education
I deliver pragmatic evidence-informed material in an engaging, relatable, and meaningful way. And having lost someone I love to suicide myself, I have a personal connection that can only come through lived experience.
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speaking engagements & Collaborations
As one of the world's leading experts in suicide bereavement and postvention, recognized by Amherst Magazine for “shaking up the conversation” on suicide as a crucial public health issue, I’ve been invited to speak hundreds of times, and have trained thousands of people around the world.
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programs
Facilitating Suicide Bereavement Support Groups for Adults
This interactive, experiential training workshop series explores best practices for facilitating warm, welcoming, and effective suicide bereavement support groups. Equally appropriate for both brand-new and highly experienced facilitators, this program is offered by Zoom several times each year (Zoom recordings and course materials from past programs are also available).
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Facilitating Suicide Bereavement Support Groups for Children & Teens
This interactive, experiential training workshop series is for anyone with a personal or professional interest in facilitating peer support groups for children, preteens, and teens (ages 6-18). Equally appropriate for both brand-new and highly experienced facilitators, this program is offered by Zoom several times each year (Zoom recordings and course materials from past programs are also available).
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Ask The Experts: Helping Our Children Cope With Suicide Loss
A multi-part series of interactive conversations and open Q&A with leading experts, covering ages 2-29. Zoom recordings from past programs are available.
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Ask The Experts: LGBTQ Suicide
An interactive conversation and open Q&A with one of the nation's leading experts in LGBTQ suicide. Zoom recordings from past programs are available.
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Key Considerations for Working with Survivors of Suicide Loss
Professional education for clinicians, medical professionals, clergy, funeral directors, and interested others. Coming in 2024.
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Finding Your Way Through Grief
An exploration of how to find support, clarity, hope, and yourself in the aftermath of traumatic loss. Coming in 2024.
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Suicide 101
A lay-friendly psychoeducational presentation on what we know from the research about what causes suicide. Coming in 2024.
Care for the Caregiver®
An interactive exploration of the impact of personal loss on professional caregivers, including clergy, hospice staff, support group facilitators, and others. Previously delivered in collaboration with a national nonprofit organization, a national thanatology institute, and a statewide funeral directors association.
The Nuts and Bolts of Effective Suicide Postvention Response
Previously delivered to grand rounds at regional medical centers, the US Army Chaplain Center and School, the Veterans Administration National Chaplain Training Center, the South Korean National Police Agency, and the interdisciplinary crisis response team of a large public university.
To hear about programs, join my email list
“Joanne’s training was one of the best I’ve heard."
"I was dazzled by her subject-matter expertise, articulateness, facility with group process, and the quality of her materials."
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​"Wow. There are simply not enough words to thank you for your powerful, timely, and transformational presentation. Truly."
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"Joanne has a unique talent in translating complex research and knowledge to a language that is easily understood by each particular audience"
“I loved listening to your presentations.”
“Your talk was exquisite.”
“Your information was so perfect in its content, delivery, and tone.”
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“Phenomenal”
Training the Chaplains of the U.S. Army
Training the Psychologists of the
South Korean National Police Agency
Custom Programs
The content, focus, and duration of any presentation can be easily customized to suit the particular interests, needs, and size of the target audience, as well as the budget of the host organization. Trainings typically combine lecture with extensive audience participation and group interactivity, and include concrete takeaway messages, relevant handouts, and carefully vetted resource information. To talk to me about what I can do for your organization, contact me.
SELECT PUBLICATIONS
After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools
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Five Things Every Funeral Director Should Know About Suicide
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Food for Thought on Yom Kippur
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Grief After Suicide: The Impact on Families
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Have You Lost Someone to Suicide?
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Survivor Narratives: Stories of Hope and Healing​
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