Take My Hand Support Series with Jean Voice Dart

PURPOSE
The Wellness Universe's "Take My Hand Support Series" features interviews with guest speakers on suicide awareness and prevention. It provides resources, education, and empowers individuals, providers, and communities.

EVENT DESCRIPTION
Join host Jean Voice Dart, an expressive arts psychotherapist, as she interviews expert guest speakers who share tools, wisdom, and insights for suicide prevention and mental wellness. Open, heartfelt, life-saving, and life-changing conversations directly connect you to those providing aid, comfort, and care. This interview series offers an educational and safe space to help ourselves and our loved ones as we heal and recover from challenging times. Let's celebrate life! Let's pivot challenges into joy. Let's tap the resources we need for ourselves and those we care about.

HOST
Jean Voice Dart, MS, RMT, CATP, Expressive Arts Psychotherapist of nearly fifty years, has lost multiple family members to suicide. Jean is a certified teacher, coach, and therapist specializing in grief, trauma, and chronic pain. She is a best-selling author who has worked closely with children and adults with special needs, helping them feel, reveal, and heal after experiencing trauma.

EVENT SCHEDULE
Join the live sessions bimonthly on every second Saturday, at Noon ET / 9 AM PT.
2025: July 12, September 13, November 8
2026: January 10, March 14, May 9, July 11

Register here: https://bit.ly/WUTakeMyHandSupportSeries

UPCOMING EVENTS
July 12, 2025
"It's OK to Not Be OK: Helping Kids Cope with Family Loss"

July Event Goals:
• Gain tools, resources, tips, and techniques for supporting children who have experienced the loss of a family member.
• Hear actionable steps for parents who are transitioning after loss.
• Identify signs when others need professional help, therapy, or additional resources.
• Listen, ask questions, and connect with a supportive, safe community to access mental health tools for well-being and recovery.

JULY GUEST SPEAKERS
Dr. Mary Welsh, SPHR, SCP, is the President and Co-Founder of Susie Q's Kids, a nonprofit providing comfort bags to children. She holds a Doctorate in Executive Leadership, is a board member of Bereaved Parents of the USA, and is a community partner with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Dr. Mary is a suicide and grief session facilitator, speaker, and coach helping others cope with loss and adversity.

Carrie Hopkins-Doubts is Chair of the ICF Ethics Independent Review Board, a best-selling author, and a PCC specializing in life transitions. As Founder of "Life's Next Chapter Coaching," she helps widowed individuals reclaim purpose and power. Carrie developed the nine-step "Rebuilding Your Life After Loss" program and contributed to the 2023 review of the ICF Code of Ethics. A workshop leader and writer, Carrie empowers people to embrace change with resilience.

JULY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION
Susie Q's Kids, a 501(C)3 nonprofit, two-time Community Partner of the Year with the AFSP, supports suicide prevention, children's mental health, and philanthropy. They work with businesses and youth groups to create comfort bags, inspiring kindness and community service. Their Smile Makers team distributes essentials, including panda bears, blankets, socks, hygiene kits, and grief support items, to children in hospitals, shelters, foster care, advocacy centers, and more.The Wellness Universe's "Take My Hand Support Series" features interviews with guest speakers on suicide awareness and prevention. It provides resources and education, empowering individuals, providers, and communities.

EMERGENCY AND CRISIS RESOURCE LIST
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, it is essential to seek help. Call, text, or chat 988 to speak with a trained crisis counselor who offers support 24/7/365. Find more emergency resources here:

The Wellness Universe Emergency and Crisis Resource List
https://www.thewellnessuniverse.com/emergency-and-crisis-resource-list/

PAST EVENTS
September 27, 2024
Take My Hand: Supporting Youth

On September 27, guest speakers shared practical tools to prevent youth suicide, support sensitive teens, and foster trust—helping create a safer, more connected future. This impactful event launched the support series.

HOST
Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Mental Performance Consultant®, known for her work in mental health and performance in sports.

EXPERT SPEAKERS
Judy Giovangelo, Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist and Founder of Ben Speaks, shared wisdom from her lived experience and guided participants in how to support empathic, sensitive teens.

Dr. Joshua Stein, Psychiatrist with PrairieCare, taught the CALM method to reduce access to lethal means, emphasizing the life-saving importance of “removing the how” to give time to uncover the “why.”

Gayle Nowak, Communication and Emotional Wellness Coach, offered strategies to help adults nurture deeper, trust-filled relationships with youth through self-awareness, healing, and authentic connection.

DISCLAIMER
This program provides health, wellness, and nutritional information and is intended for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, it is always advisable to consult a physician or other healthcare professional. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health-related advice from your healthcare professional because of something you may have read, heard, or seen here. The use of any information provided in this program is solely at your own risk.

Developments in medical research may impact the health, wellness, fitness, and nutritional advice shared here. No assurances can be given that the information contained in this program will always include the most relevant findings or developments.

The program's experts share tools, practices, and knowledge with sincere and generous intentions. Please contact them with any questions, insights, or concerns you may have. They are happy to assist you!