The University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Social Work will host the 44th annual MidSOUTH Summer Conference for Integrated Behavioral Health Studies Wednesday June 8-10 in the Donaghey Student Center.

The conference offers three days of training in integrated behavioral health studies, including those involving substance abuse, mental health, and child welfare. Counseling and mental health professionals can earn up to 23.5 hours of continuing education.

MidSOUTH is the community service unit of the UALR School of Social Work, which provides leadership, training, and product support in the areas of addiction, child welfare, technology, distance learning, and organizational development.

The conference’s keynote speaker is Kevin Hines, a suicide prevention expert, mental health advocate, and peer counselor. He will speak at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 9, in Donaghey Student Center Meeting Rooms A-C.

In his speech, “Cracked Not Broken…Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt,” Hines discusses his suicide attempt in 2000 to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and his path to recovery.

Hines appeared in Eric Steel’s 2006 British-American documentary film, “The Bridge,” which filmed 365 days at the Golden Gate Bridge and captured numerous suicides. Hines will lead a discussion after the movie’s presentation at 4:30 p.m. June 9.

To see a full schedule of events, visit the website.

For more information, please contact Conference Coordinator Charlotte Besch at 501-569-8459 or at cabesch@midsouth.ualr.edu.

In the upper right photo, Kevin Hines, the conference’s keynote speaker, is shown. Contributed photo.