Youth Suicide Expert In New Zealand

Youth Suicide Expert In New Zealand

Professor Hatim Omar – Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Kentucky and chair of the successful ‘stop youth suicide’ campaign – is visiting New Zealand soon to give a series of workshops and a public lecture on preventing youth suicide.

Invited by Wintec’s School of Health, Professor Omar will share his expert knowledge on youth suicide prevention, an inclusive grassroots and multi-agency approach to suicide prevention, and his ‘stop youth suicide’ campaign which has been successful in reducing youth suicide rates in the state of Kentucky over the last decade.

Wintec chief executive Mark Flowers says: “We all know that New Zealand has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the world.

“By bringing a leading expert on youth suicide prevention to New Zealand, Wintec is proactively educating our staff and local community about the latest strategies for reducing youth suicide. As an educational provider, we are invested in our youth and ensuring that our young people are safe.”

New Zealand has the highest rates of suicide in the OECD for youth aged 15-19 at 15.9 per 100,000 people – about double the rate of the United States and Australia – according to the OECD’s report on child wellbeing released in 2009.

Professor Omar will be facilitating two types of discussions during his visit to the Waikato. A lecture at 7pm, November 24th at Wintec House, is open to the public. He is also holding a series of interactive workshops for professionals working in the health, counselling, youth and education sectors. All of these events are free.

Public lecture
When: Wednesday November 24th, 6.30-9pm (tea and coffee from 6.30pm, lecture at 7pm)
Where: The Atrium, Wintec House, Wintec city campus, Ward St, Hamilton

Workshops for health professionals
When: Monday November 22nd, 12.30-4.30pm
Where: Lecture Theatre C.16, Wintec Hamilton city campus, Tristram St, Hamilton

When: Tuesday November 23rd, 10am-2pm
Where: Waahi Whanui, Parry Street Complex, Huntly

When: Thursday November 25th, 1-5pm
Where: Whare, Wintec Te Kuiti campus, Tiroa House, Taupiri St, Te Kuiti

When: Friday November 26th, 10am-2pm
Where: Lecture Theatre C.16, Wintec Hamilton city campus, Tristram St, Hamilton

RSVP: If you would like to attend any of these free events, please RSVP to sandy.thomson@wintec.ac.nz with the date you would like to attend by November 18th.

Biography – Dr. Hatim Omar
Dr. Hatim Omar is Professor of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He is also its Chief of Adolescent Medicine and Young Parent Programme.

Dr. Omar obtained his medical training at the Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria then completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology from Second United City Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria and Paediatrics from West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia. He received postgraduate training in Adolescent Medicine at West Virginia University and Physiology at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York.

Dr. Omar is board certified in the areas of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. He is the founder and Chairman of the Stop Youth Suicide Campaign. He is also a co-founder and executive committee member of the International Society of Holistic Health. He is a member of the executive committee of the Section on Adolescent Health of the American Academy of Paediatrics.

Dr. Omar has published extensively in all areas of care for adolescents in various peer-reviewed scientific journals, books and many media outlets. He is on the editorial Board of the Journal of Paediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, Child Health and Human Development and four other peer reviewed journals.

Dr Omar has served as an ambassador for wellbeing of adolescents worldwide and is highly regarded for his tireless volunteer work on behalf of adolescents.

He is the recipient of: Founders of Adolescent Health Award: Community Leadership from the American Academy of Paediatrics: Section on Adolescent Health 2007; Special Achievement Award for bringing awareness to adolescent depression and suicide, American Academy of Paediatrics 2007; The Don Cantley Community Service award, Kentucky Paediatric Society 2007; SAAMY (Sexual Assault Awareness Month Award) for services to sexual abuse victims, presented by KY Association of Sexual Assault Programs 2007; Ohio Valley Society for Adolescent Medicine Award for dedication to adolescent health (for the Stop Youth Suicide Campaign) 2006; Commonwealth of Kentucky Governor's Award for Community Service and Volunteerism 2000; The William Lions Award, UK 2008; Chairman’s Research Award, Chairman’s Teaching Award and the Miracle Maker Award in different years.

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