F6 - Rural Georgia Growing Stronger: 988, Law Enforcement, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Resource Implications

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM MDT

Location: Bluebird 3A

This discussion explores how the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is shaping crisis response in rural Georgia. Panelists will address the role of law enforcement (including co-responder teams), suicide prevention strategies, and the resource challenges and opportunities for building stronger mental health supports across rural communities.

Learning Objectives:

Discover an innovative intervention to address stigma reduction and suicide prevention in rural communities.
In this session you will learn about the capacity of local Co-responder programs to support rural individuals and families during times of stress.
Identify 988 initiatives in rural communities and ways we are expanding the Crisis intervention training to support rural communities.

Disclosure(s):

Jennifer W. Dunn, LMFT: No financial relationships to disclose

Carol J. McVey, LCSW, MPA: No financial relationships to disclose

Rachael Holloman, MS, LPC: No financial relationships to disclose

Dawn Peel, LPC CPCS: No financial relationships to disclose

Breakout Presenter(s)

Jennifer W. Dunn, LMFT

Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Ochlocknee, Georgia

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Slides
Carol J. McVey, LCSW, MPA

Senior Director, Adult Mental Health
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Atlanta, Georgia

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Rachael Holloman, MS, LPC

Senior Director, Office of Federal Grant Programs and Suicide Prevention
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Blakely, Georgia

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
DP

Dawn Peel, LPC CPCS

Senior Director, Office of Crisis Coordination
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Atlanta, Georgia

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose