Events | CCA

About the Event

Back for its second year, Afternoon of Hope is a two-hour virtual event for World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10, 2-4 PM ET) focused on suicide awareness, prevention, and action.

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Through four dynamic, live-streamed sessions, you’ll leave equipped to support yourself, your loved ones, and your workplace:

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When the Storm Hits – Tools for staying grounded in moments of crisis with Dan Lukasik
Don’t Wait – Recognize warning signs and start life-saving conversations with Sarah Gaer
Work Shouldn’t Hurt – How teams and leaders can support employee well-being with Allison Bankert
Voices That Move Mountains – How sharing your story can break stigma & spark change with Dennis Gillan

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You’ll leave with practical tools, renewed hope, and the confidence to make a difference.

Meet the Speakers

Dan Lukasik

Dan, New York State’s Wellness Coordinator, is a nationally recognized speaker on stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression, having delivered over 200 presentations across the U.S. His PBS documentary, My Brother Lost in Time: A Bipolar Journey, explores his relationship with his late brother Paul and their shared experience with mental illness. Dan founded the Buffalo Depression Project, a resource hub supporting individuals and employers in addressing depression. Having lived with depression and anxiety for over 25 years, he brings authenticity, empathy, and practical tools to every presentation—empowering others and breaking stigma around mental health.

Sarah Gaer

Sarah is a mental health professional with over 25 years of experience in trauma, addiction, and suicide prevention. She holds a master’s in clinical psychology from Antioch University and is a Suicide Prevention Specialist who has trained over 1,000 people and led crisis response following significant incidents. A recognized speaker on Soul Exhaustion and mental health, Sarah also works in Law Enforcement mental health and the H.O.P.E. Certification program, advancing evidence-based practices in mental health promotion. Her published works in suicide prevention provide resilience, guidance, and hope for those seeking healing and renewal in their lives.

Allison Bankert

Allison, National Grid’s Manager of Wellbeing, has a passion for holistic and person-centered health to optimize a person’s wellbeing across multiple aspects of their life. She holds a master’s in occupational therapy from Utica University and has over 10 years educating clients in both the clinical and corporate settings to empower individuals to live and contribute to a fulfilling life. Allison brings evidence-based practice alongside a commitment to a balanced lifestyle for front-line workers in the utility industry with proactive mental and physical health programs. Her professional knowledge of interconnectedness has driven her to further her education with a Doctorate in Business Administration. She is currently trailblazing research topics of occupational health factors in high-risk industrial workers, leadership, demand, and strain in the workplace. Allison brings empathy, adaptability, and authenticity to wellbeing promotion focusing on reducing stigma in mental health and fostering balance across all aspects of life.

Dennis Gillan

Dennis is an ordinary man with an extraordinary story who tragically lost both of his brothers to suicide. His lost sent him into a spiral of depression and addiction. Through therapy, sobriety, and volunteering at a crisis hotline, he began to heal and transform his personal grief into a powerful mission to help others. Today, Dennis is a nationally recognized speaker, educator, and author working to break the stigma around mental health. He is known for creating safe spaces through his authentic and warm demeanor. Trained in QPR, ASIST, SafeTalk, Talk Saves Lives, and SoulShop, Dennis brings both lived experience and professional knowledge to inspire hope, build resilience, and help reduce stigma.