Media Release: National Suicide Prevention Partnership Expands Private-Sector Leadership
Action Alliance Names Chris Thomas as Private Sector Co-Chair to Lead the Nation's Public-Private Partnership for Suicide Prevention
May 21, 2026 — The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance), the nation’s public-private partnership for suicide prevention, announced Chris Thomas, co-founder and CEO of The Defensive Line, as incoming private sector Executive Committee (EXCOM) Co-Chair.
The Action Alliance’s Executive Committee comprised of leaders from government, industry, and the non-profit sectors continues to reflect strong public-private collaboration, with partners leading efforts to advance the goals and objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy).
In this role, Thomas will help advance the Action Alliance’s Strategic Priorities in support of the goals and objectives of the National Strategy, while contributing to coordinated suicide prevention efforts nationwide.
Chris Thomas is co-founder and chief executive officer of The Defensive Line, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to youth mental health and suicide prevention. Drawing on lived experience and more than 30 years of private-sector leadership, he brings a personal and strategic commitment to advancing suicide prevention through cross-sector collaboration.
Thomas currently serves on the Action Alliance’s Executive Committee and has contributed to the Action Alliance’s upstream prevention initiative, which developed resources to help communities create safe, supportive environments before a crisis occurs.
“After losing our daughter Ella to suicide, our family made a commitment that her story would not end in silence,” said Chris Thomas. “Through The Defensive Line, we are working to create a world where young people feel seen, supported, and safe enough to ask for help before reaching a breaking point. But this work cannot belong to families and nonprofits alone. Real change happens when communities, schools, businesses, and leaders all choose to become part of the defensive line protecting our youth. Private sector support is not just philanthropy; it is an investment in saving lives, strengthening communities, and reminding people that they do not have to carry their struggles alone.
I am especially honored and energized to step into my role as incoming Private Sector Executive Committee (EXCOM) Co-Chair, where I look forward to helping deepen collaboration across sectors and continuing to mobilize leaders and organizations around this urgent work. Together, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to create lasting change and build stronger systems of support for the next generation.”
The Action Alliance extends its deep gratitude to outgoing Co-Chairs Craig Kramer, Mental Health Ambassador; retired, Johnson & Johnson; Board Chair Mental Health Center of Denver, and Dr. Carolyn Clancy, former Assistant Under Secretary for Health, Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for their leadership and contributions in helping guide the organization’s progress.
“We are deeply grateful to Craig Kramer and Dr. Carolyn Clancy for the leadership and foundation they helped build in shaping the Action Alliance’s Strategic Priorities in support of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention,” said Colleen Carr, Director of the Action Alliance. “As we welcome Chris Thomas into this role, the Action Alliance remains committed to convening leaders from across government, industry, and business to strengthen a coordinated, national response to suicide efforts nationwide.”
Additional Executive Committee members were recently announced and represent organizations across public and private sectors, reflecting the Action Alliance’s commitment to collaborative leadership. A full list of Executive Committee members is available at theactionalliance.org/excom.
FOR NEWS MEDIA PARTNERS
Research shows that the media may influence suicide rates by the way they report on suicide. Evidence suggests that when the media tell stories of people positively coping in suicidal moments, more suicides can be prevented. We urge all members of the media working on these stories to refer to the Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide for best practices for safely and accurately reporting on suicide.
About the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) is the public-private partnership for suicide prevention in the United States. Founded in 2010, the Action Alliance brings together leaders, experts, and resources from the public and private sectors to steward and advance the goals and objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy) – the roadmap for a comprehensive approach to preventing suicide. The Action Alliance’s Secretariat, which serves as the home for strategy, communications, and operations for the Action Alliance partnership, is supported as part of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) through a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The Action Alliance is funded through both public and private sector
support. Learn more at theactionalliance.org and join the conversation about suicide prevention by following the Action Alliance on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.