Richard McKeon has worked actively in suicide prevention for over three decades and is recognized as both a national and international expert. He served on the leadership groups for both the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. In 2023, he was awarded the American Association for Suicidology Dublin Award for Lifetime Achievement in Suicide Prevention.

Richard is the Deputy Director for Strategy at the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention at EDC. Before joining EDC, he worked at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) from 2004-2026. While at SAMHSA, he served for 12 years as Chief for the Suicide Prevention Branch. He oversaw development of the Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention grant program which has demonstrated reductions in youth suicide in funded counties; the Campus Suicide Prevention program; Zero Suicide grants; the Suicide Prevention Resource Center; and the Native Connections program. Richard has worked with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline since its inception in 2005, including establishing the foundation for 988 as the national suicide prevention number.

To advance suicide prevention worldwide, Richard participated in developing the World Health Organization’s first World Suicide Report and has served as U.S. representative to the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). He is engaged in IASP’s Partnerships for Life efforts to promote the development of national strategies around the world, including serving as Scientific Co-chair for the 2026 IASP Conference in Costa Rica.

Richard is a licensed psychologist with a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arizona and holds an MPH from Columbia University.