Upstream Suicide Prevention Working Group
Launched in January 2025, the Upstream Suicide Prevention Working Group brings together experts from across the field to identify opportunities and gaps to advance national work related to upstream suicide prevention and builds on the foundation created in the Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention Framework by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and Mental Health America (MHA) in 2023.
Members:
- William Baker, Health Scientist (Suicide Prevention), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Erin Ivie, CPS II, Executive Director, SpeakUp ReachOut; Commissioner, Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention
- Elaine de Mello, Suicide Prevention and Postvention Advisor, NAMI NH and the Connect Program
- Jarrod Hindman, Chief Operating Officer, Sources of Strength
- Bobbi Hauptmann, Senior Director of Suicide Prevention Communications and Actions Team, Office of Suicide Prevention, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Elizabeth Makulec, Executive Director, Kids Under Twenty-One (KUTO); St. Louis Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition Steering Committee Member
- Preston Mitchum, Chief Executive Officer, PDM Consulting
- Maddy Reinert, Senior Director of Population Health, Mental Health America (MHA)
- Mary Rooney, Associate Director for Prevention Research, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Kirsten Sierra, MSW, LCSW, St. Louis Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition
- Deborah Stone, ScD, MSW, MPH, Acting Associate Chief of Science, Division of Injury Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Saurav Thapa, Senior Federal Affairs Manager, The Trevor Project
- Christa Thelan, Program Manager, Safe States Alliance
- Chris Thomas, Co-Founder & CEO, The Defensive Line
- Victoria Waugh-Reed, Director of Community Initiatives, Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)
- Janson Wu, Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs, The Trevor Project
- Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO)
Funding for this working group was made possible by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Safe States Alliance. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of Safe States or CDC, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Safe States or the U.S. Government.
This initiative aligns with relevant Executive Orders.