Media Release: Richard McKeon Joins Action Alliance as Deputy Director of Strategy
Richard McKeon Joins Action Alliance as Deputy Director of Strategy
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention announced that Richard McKeon, PhD, MPH, has joined the organization as Deputy Director of Strategy.
A nationally and internationally recognized leader in suicide prevention, McKeon brings more than three decades of experience advancing behavioral health policy, crisis services, and national suicide prevention efforts. In his new role, he will help guide the Action Alliance's Strategic Priorities, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and support implementation of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention to accelerate progress in reducing suicide across the United States.
Prior to joining the Action Alliance, McKeon served at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) from 2004 to 2026, including 12 years as Chief of the Suicide Prevention Branch within the Center for Mental Health Services. In that role, he oversaw many of the nation's leading suicide prevention initiatives, including the Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention Program, Campus Suicide Prevention grants, the Zero Suicide initiative, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and the Native Connections program.
McKeon has worked with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline since its inception in 2005 and helped establish the foundation for 988 as the nation's suicide prevention and mental health crisis line. He also served on the leadership groups that developed both the 2012 and 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, helping shape the nation's approach to suicide prevention over more than a decade.
In addition to his federal leadership, McKeon has advanced suicide prevention efforts globally. He contributed to the World Health Organization's first World Suicide Report, has served as the U.S. representative to the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), and currently serves as Scientific Co-chair for the 2026 IASP World Congress in Costa Rica. Through IASP's Partnerships for Life initiative, he has supported countries around the world in developing national suicide prevention strategies.
Earlier in his career, McKeon held leadership roles in community mental health, including directing a psychiatric emergency service and serving as Associate Administrator and Clinical Director of a hospital-based community mental health center in New Jersey.
McKeon's experience spans clinical care, federal leadership, crisis services, and international collaboration, uniquely positioning him to help advance the Action Alliance's work. He will support efforts to align partners across sectors, promote evidence-informed approaches, and strengthen collective action to save lives.
McKeon is a licensed psychologist and holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arizona and a Master of Public Health from Columbia University.
In 2023, McKeon received the American Association for Suicidology's Dublin Award for Lifetime Achievement in Suicide Prevention and was a finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for his contributions to the establishment of 988.
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