Tuesday, August 4th, 2026

University of Montana | Missoula

2026 Conference Theme

Balancing the Scales: Reducing Risk & Amplifying Protective Factors in Diverse Montana Communities

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Meet Our Speakers

Dr. Holly C. Wilcox, PhD, MA

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Holly Wilcox is a Professor in the Department of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She holds joint appointments in the Department of Health Policy and Management, as well as the Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Education. Holly's research centers on advancing public health approaches to suicide prevention, encompassing policies, early intervention, and chain of care approaches. Holly is the President of the International Academy of Suicide Research (IASR), a member of the Scientific Council and Board of Directors of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), a suicide prevention consultant for the World Health Organization, and an Affiliate Investigator at the Centre for Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention of the Black Dog Institute in Australia.

Dr. Wilcox has a focus on population-based research on preventing suicidal behaviors. Her work evaluates the impact of community-based universal prevention programs targeting suicidal behaviors and leverages data linkage strategies to inform effective suicide prevention. Dr. Wilcox's research extends to diverse settings, including schools, universities, social media platforms, and emergency departments. She actively mentors students, teaches courses at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and leads a multidisciplinary, interdepartmental suicide prevention work group at Johns Hopkins. She has won the Johns Hopkins Advising, Mentoring, and Teaching Recognition Award three times.

Throughout her career, Dr. Wilcox has been a tireless advocate for a public health-oriented suicide prevention agenda, collaborating with national and international organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, World Health Organization/UNICEF, and Pan American Health Organization. She has secured competitive research grants from various agencies and has published over 150 research articles. Dr. Wilcox has worked to adapt and implement school-based interventions in the United States and make research findings accessible to people working in various roles in the community including mental health professionals and suicide bereaved individuals. 

Call for Speakers

You’re invited to submit a proposal for presenting at the 14th annual Montana Conference on Suicide Prevention to be held in Missoula on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026.

2026 Conference Theme

Balancing the Scales: Reducing Risk & Amplifying Protective Factors in Diverse Montana Communities

Learn more about the content our planning committee is seeking, and submit your proposal. Submissions are due by February 15th.

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The Venue

Montana Conference on Suicide Prevention 2026 will take place on the 3rd floor of the University Center (UC) on the University of Montana Campus, which can be accessed from every entrance to the building.

Accessibility:  There are three entrances to the University Center. Accessible entrances are on the north and west sides and feature automatic exterior and interior doors.

There is an elevator in the center of the main floor atrium.

Conference Parking

If you plan to park on campus between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, you must purchase hourly parking, a day pass or a semester parking pass.

We strongly recommend buying a day pass for the easiest most flexible conference parking. The process is simple and just requires your vehicle license plate number.

The rate to park on campus is $8/day and passes can be purchased in advance at the UM Parking Portal (click the Permits  button and then the Guest Login).

You can also buy a daily permit in person at the Campus Security office located on Campus Drive at the base of Mount Sentinel and across the street from Washington Grizzly Stadium.

Hourly pay parking via the Passport Parking app is available in the following lots near the University Center:

Lot V, Lot F, Lot A, Lot R Parking Structure: Levels 1 and 3

Click here to enlarge Parking Map

Conference Sponsors

The Montana Conference on Suicide Prevention would not be possible without the invaluable partnership of our sponsors. Their financial commitment enables us to offer high-quality content and continuing education, free of charge to attendees, strengthening our collective fight against suicide.

Partners for Prevention

Collaborators for Healing

Advocates for HOPE

Thank you to our Conference Sponsors.

Interested in Sponsoring? Click here for details.

Sponsorship Opportunity

We're looking for sponsors whose work aligns with our vitally important mission. Help us continue to bring this high-quality content to Montana at no cost to attendees.

Why be a sponsor?

  • Raise Awareness: Your sponsorship helps raise awareness about the issue and increase public education on the topic.
  • Show Support: Sponsorship shows support for those who have been affected by suicide and demonstrates a commitment to suicide prevention efforts.
  • Networking Opportunities: Network with other organizations and individuals who are dedicated to preventing suicide.
  • Promote Products or Services: Sponsorship can also provide an opportunity for sponsors to promote their products or services that are related to behavioral health and suicide prevention.
  • Demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility: Your sponsorship demonstrates your company's commitment to corporate social responsibility and its dedication to making a positive impact on society.
  • Strengthen Relationships: Strengthen relationships with stakeholders and partners in the behavioral health and suicide prevention communities.
  • Advance the Field: By expanding the exposure and reach of expert knowledge, together we are advancing the field with more effective strategies for preventing suicide.
  • All or part of your sponsorship may be tax deductible as a charitable contribution. AFSP's Tax ID# 13-3393329
  • The conference provides FREE suicide prevention strategies to as many people from across the state. Attendance is free and continuing education units are also offered at no charge for Behavioral Health professionals, Registered Nurses, and Teachers.
  • Feedback from attendees is always overwhelmingly positive.
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