Join EDC at AAS25

EDC experts and thought leaders will present at the American Association of Suicidology Conference (AAS25) in Columbus, Ohio, from March 30 to April 4. They will share strategies to prevent suicide and promote mental health through presentations on such subjects as the use of data and assessment in strengthening prevention programs, suicide prevention in schools and correctional institutions, and dealing with the aftermath of suicide attempts.

Monday, March 31 (7 a.m.–5 p.m., Kojo Kamau Ballroom A): Alexandra Karydi, Shawna Hite-Jones, and Sommer Albert will lead an invitation-only course, “Strengthening State and Territorial Suicide Prevention Infrastructure to Advance the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: An Interactive Session for State and Territorial Coordinators.” This course is designed specifically for state and territorial leadership who are actively engaged in prevention roles and responsible for statewide implementation.

Tuesday, April 1 (12–12:30 p.m., Kojo Kamau Ballroom B): Laurin Jozlin and Amy Molloy will present “Reimagining Safer Suicide Care in Corrections: A Zero Suicide Approach.” The session will examine the Zero Suicide model, grounded in trauma-informed care and a just culture, and showcase its application within correctional environments. By shifting attitudes toward mental health and suicide prevention within correctional facilities, Zero Suicide encourages open dialogue and fosters an environment where both staff and inmates feel safe seeking help.

Tuesday, April 1 (2:15–3:15 p.m., Kojo Kamau Ballroom C): Julie Goldstein Grumet, the director of EDC’s Zero Suicide Institute, along with Stacey Freedenthal, Diedre Arms, John P. Ackerman, and Susan Todoroff, will present “After Your Child’s Suicide Attempt: An Honest Discussion with Parents and Clinicians.” The session will feature a showing of the documentary video Parents-to-Parents: After Your Child’s Suicide Attempt, followed by a moderated panel discussion, including individuals interviewed in the film. Opportunities to widely share the video will also be explored.

Tuesday, April 1 (4:30–5 p.m., Pheoris West A): Alexandra Karydi and Alissa Bey will present “The 2024 State and Territorial Suicide Prevention Needs Assessment (SNA): Identifying National Strengths and Challenges in Suicide Prevention Infrastructure.” The SNA aims to measure suicide prevention infrastructure capacity across the country and to offer state and territorial suicide prevention programs the opportunity to articulate needs and track changes in their suicide prevention capacity over time. It is the only assessment of its kind.

Tuesday, April 1 (4:30–5 p.m., Gina Knee Room): Shawna Hite-Jones and Sommer Albert will present the workshop “Multi-Tiered Suicide Prevention for Schools: A Framework with Evidence of Feasibility and Impact for Schools.” Workshop participants will learn about the MTSP framework, its initial impact and demonstrated feasibility, and ideas for strengthening school-based suicide prevention efforts. They will also learn about strategies and tools they can use to strengthen existing programs in their schools.

Wednesday, April 2 (2–2:30 p.m., Kojo Kamau Ballroom B): Amy Molloy, Jan Ulrich, and Tazeen Ahmed will conduct the session “Zero Suicide: A Collaborative Approach to a Public Health Problem.” Their presentation will describe the Zero Suicide framework as part of a public health approach to suicide prevention and will identify opportunities for community partnerships that support effective implementation of evidence-based suicide prevention strategies and interventions.

Wednesday, April 2 (3–4 p.m., Kojo Kamau Ballroom C): Theresa Murray, with Shelby Rowe and Corbin J. Standley, will present “From Data to Action: Using Public Insights to Inform Suicide Prevention Strategies and Mental Health Support.” They will summarize the importance of robust population data in shaping suicide prevention strategies and demonstrate how such data can drive informed, actionable interventions for communities, organizations, and health care systems. They will also discuss how public perception findings influence policy and program development, including practical applications in support of crisis services.

Learn more about EDC’s work focused on Mental Health & Well-Being and Suicide, Addictions, & Violence Prevention.