Upstream Suicide Prevention Working Group
Launched in January 2025, the Upstream Suicide Prevention Working Group brought 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.
Between January 2025 and August 2025, this group met monthly and stayed actively engaged to advance upstream suicide prevention by informing assessment tools, guiding resource development, and shaping the framework for focus groups and case studies. The group also played a vital role in reviewing and promoting the final products through their networks and ongoing outreach.
The Working Group was created to guide the development of Moving Suicide Prevention Upstream: From Concept to Action.
Note: This group has successfully completed their work on Upstream Suicide Prevention and is no longer active. Titles and affiliations are from the time of membership and may have since changed. The Action Alliance graciously appreciates our partners for their time and valuable contributions to the efforts listed below.
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
- Shannon Limjuco, MPH, Vice President of Program Operations, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
- 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
- Christine Moutier, MD, Chief Medical Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
- 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)