Events

Feb. 18, 2026
The webinar focuses on key learnings from a 3-year Suicide Prevention ECHO program developed by the AFSP and AAP which aimed to support the implementation of suicide prevention strategies in pediatric healthcare and community settings. Attendees will learn about the Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention and methodology and results from the Suicide Prevention ECHO program: development of the curricula, adaptations to different pediatric health care settings, role of community ambassadors, quality assurance, evaluating the ECHO model effectiveness, and implications for future youth suicide prevention efforts in clinical and community settings.
What: Webinar with Q&A
When: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, 2–3 p.m. EST
Where: Virtual, Zoom
Speakers:
Corbin J. Standley, PhD—AFSP Senior Director of Impact Communication and Continuous Improvement
Kristen Kaseeska, MPH—AAP Manager of Suicide Prevention
Jessica Leffelman, BS—AAP Manager of ECHO Initiatives
Registration: https://arcsapps.umassmed.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=MCKJTMEAYDKM9NLA

Oct. 28, 2025
Registration is now open for the 7th Annual UX Symposium (UXSYM) at WPI — a premier gathering of UX professionals, researchers, business leaders and innovators.  This year’s symposium will explore the intersection of AI and human-centered design with a focus on what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next.
When: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025
Where: Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
View the Preliminary Program (schedule updates ongoing)
Reserve Your Spot—Space is Limited! https://uxsym.org

Sept. 27, 2025, 9 a.m. EDT
Who: MA Chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
What: Walk and Fundraiser
When: Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, registration at 9 a.m., opening ceremony and walk at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Polar Park, Worcester
Why: To come together in community to support suicide prevention efforts in Massachusetts
How to Register: Go to our AFSP team page

Sept. 22, 2025, 2–3:30 p.m. EDT
For Who: Open to the Community and especially CAPES faculty, scholars, consultants, and staff and colleagues within suicide prevention, implementation science, machine learning, and technology.
By Who:
Julie Angerhofer, PhD, MPH (Associate Investigator, Kaiser Permanente, Washington Health Research Institute)
Kurt Michael, PhD (Senior Clinical Director, The JED Foundation)
T’Leah McQuade, AA (CAPES Lived Experience Advisory Board Member, Student Intern, University of Massachusetts Lowell)
What: CAPES Innovation Summit, organized with support from Education Development Center and focused on using the Zero Suicide Framework to advance CAPES technologies and implementation of evidence based suicide care
When: Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, 2–3:30 p.m. EDT
Where: Virtual, Zoom
How to Register: Register through our RedCap

Sept. 18, 2025, 12–1 p.m.
Michael Allen, MD (Professor, Psychiatry; Medical Director, Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus), will be speaking at UMass Chan's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Grand Rounds on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, 12–1 p.m. The title of his presentation is "From Risk Detection to Intervention: Feasible Suicide Care at Scale."

May 20 & 21, 2025
The theme for this year's retreat was Harnessing AI for Suicide Prevention: Innovations and Future Directions. Thank you to those who joined us for a two-day event filled with presentations relating to suicide prevention research. This year we placed an emphasis on the use of AI in suicide prevention and suicide prevention research, showcasing recent advancements in the technology. Speakers included CAPES center director, Edwin Boudreaux, PhD, along with Camille Nebeker, EdD, MS; Feifan Liu, PhD; Katherine Dixon-Gordon, PhD; Martha Zimmermann, PhD; Rachel Davis-Martin, PhD; Adrian Zai, MD, PhD, MPH; Qiming Shi; and Emmanuel Agu, PhD.

Dec. 18, 2024, 2–3 p.m. Presenter: Prashanth Brahmandam, CTO of Backpack Healthcare.
As the mental health crisis grows, the exploration of data-driven approaches to suicide prevention has taken on increased urgency. This presentation delves into the potential of AI and data analytics to transform suicide prevention efforts, leveraging diverse data sources such as behavioral patterns, language indicators, and clinical histories. Through AI-driven insights, it's possible to detect at-risk individuals, optimize timely interventions, and strengthen care coordination. Key topics include the necessary ecosystem for effective implementation, system integration requirements, data privacy and security concerns, and risk mitigation strategies. Practical applications and real-world examples will illustrate both the promise and the complexities involved in bringing AI solutions into this sensitive and critical area of mental health, highlighting the nuanced interplay between technological innovation and ethical care. 

Nov. 20, 2024
The Person-Centered Design Unit (PDU) is thrilled to announce that the 6th Annual UX Symposium (UXSYM) will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. EST to 6:00 p.m. EST at WPI in Worcester. The User Experience Symposium (UXSYM) 2024 provides a platform that allows experts from industry and academia to come together to share their experiences and shape the future of UX research. This year’s theme focuses on harnessing the power of AI to create innovative and valuable user experiences. The event will provide a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge research and participate in discussions about the future of AI and UX with leading innovators in the field.