A spring series of free Lifelong Learning events organized by the University of Iowa Alumni Association (UIAA) kicks off on Feb. 19 with a session on suicide prevention.

In the United States, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 24. On average, someone commits suicide every 13 minutes.

During our program, John Westefeld, a professor in the UI’s counseling psychology program in the College of Education, will discuss current data on suicide, risk factors, what to do if you’re concerned about a friend or family member, available resources, and the need for follow-up therapy for survivors after a suicide. “Suicide: Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention," takes place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center, 1200 Grand Ave., Des Moines.

The UIAA’s popular Lifelong Learning events provide enriching educational opportunities on topics that range from health issues and current events to career development. The alumni association works with UI partners and external sponsors to bring the expertise of university faculty and staff to communities across Iowa.

These Lifelong Learning events are free and open to the public but require registration. For more information and to register for any of these programs, visit the Lifelong Learning series website.

Other upcoming Lifelong Learning events include:

• March 4, in Cedar Rapids: “The Plugged-In Life of Teens and Tweens: What’s the Impact?” with Marcus Barlow, program coordinator in the Division of Child and Community Health at Child Health Specialty Clinics.
• March 5, in Des Moines: “Music, Media, and Journalism: Surprisingly Bright Futures,” with UI journalism professor Don McLeese.
• March 8, in Coralville: “Lessons from Cookie Monster,” with UI associate professor of education Deborah Linebarger.
• April 7, in Des Moines: “The Evolution of Parkinson’s Disease,” with Ludwig Gutmann, UI clinical professor of neurology.
• April 22, in Des Moines: “Protecting Our Farmers,” with Diane Rohlman, associate professor in occupational and environmental health and graduate program director in agricultural safety and health.
• June 10, in Iowa City: “Myths About Sexual Assault: Facts vs. Fiction,” with Pamela Terrill, a sexual assault nurse examiner and Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team (JCSART) coordinator, and Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP) Assistant Director Karen Siler.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact the UI Alumni Association in advance at 319-335-3294.