Breaking the Silence: Engaging Communities to Prevent Suicide

Melissa Romeo is the chair of this year's Suicide Prevention Conference. She is an Emergency Response Coordinator with the Disaster and Terrorism Branch and the New Jersey 988 Program Coordinator within the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. 

Bretta Jacquemin, MPH is a Research Scientist at the Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, where she has been leading the Center’s general injury surveillance data activities since 2001. In 2002, Ms. Jacquemin became the epidemiologist for the New Jersey Violent Death Reporting System, and in 2011 was promoted to Principal Investigator. She has also been the Lead for Overdose Mortality Surveillance under the CDC-funded Overdose Data to Action program since 2019.  Ms. Jacquemin graduated from Douglass College, Rutgers University in 1994 with a BA in Biological Sciences and Art History, and earned her Master of Public Health concentrating in Epidemiology and Quantitative Methods from UMDNJ, School of Public Health in 2001. She currently lives in Lambertville, New Jersey.

Dr. Lisa Horowitz is a Pediatric Psychologist and a Senior Associate Scientist at the National Institute of Mental Health at NIH. Dr. Horowitz received her doctorate in clinical psychology from George Washington University, completed a Pediatric Health Service Research Fellowship at Harvard Medical School, and obtained a Masters in Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. The major focus of Dr. Horowitz’s research has been in the area of suicide prevention in the medical setting that involves validating and implementing tools for clinicians, such as the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ). She is also one of the co-authors of the Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention, released by the American Academy of Pediatrics in March of 2022. Dr. Horowitz is collaborating with hospitals, and outpatient clinics both nationally and globally, assisting with implementation of suicide risk screening and management of patients who screen positive using the ASQ Toolkit and Youth Suicide Risk Clinical Pathways.

THOMAS JOINER went to college at Princeton and received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He is The Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Florida State University. Dr. Joiner’s work is on the psychology, neurobiology, and treatment of suicidal behavior and related conditions. He was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship, was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was given the 2020 James McKeen Cattell Award for lifetime contributions to the area of applied psychological research from the Association for Psychological Science.

A consultant to NASA’s Human Research Program, he was the Director of the DoD-funded Military Suicide Research Consortium, a ten-year, $70 million dollar project. He was awarded the 2023 Stengel Award from the International Association for Suicide Prevention, their lifetime achievement award, bestowed on one researcher worldwide once every two years.

Dr. Joiner runs a clinical and consulting practice specializing in suicidal behavior, including legal consultation on suits involving death by suicide.

Karen Wapner, MA, is the new NJ 988 State Lead and Regional Coordinator in the Office of Community Services. Prior to transitioning to this role, Karen was a Program Supervisor in the MH FFS unit since its inception in 2017 and, before that, worked in the Office of Community Services since 2000,covering communities throughout the state.

Before coming to DMHAS, Karen worked for DDD providing direct case management services, and as a Clinical Interventionist providing behavioral analysis and recommendations for individuals served.

Prior to state service, Karen worked as a Music Therapist in the University of Pennsylvania Health System’s Partial Care Programs and on Adolescent, Adult, and Older Adult Units in Mt. Sinai Hospital, the inpatient psychiatric hospital for the Graduate Health System, Philadelphia. Karen has two Master’s Degrees; one from Hahnemann (now Drexel) University, and one from West Chester University where she also obtained her Bachelor’s degree.

Bill Zimmermann currently serves as Director of Crisis Services for the National Call Center at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. Bill is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, earning a Masters of Social Work from the Rutgers School of Social Work in 2006.  He has worked in behavioral health settings since 1991, the majority of his career has been spent in the acute system of care with both child/adolescent and adult populations. He has been involved in the development and launch of multiple statewide initiatives over the past decade, including New Jersey’s statewide suicide prevention hotline in 2013, the Interim Managing Entity for access to the publicly funded system of substance use disorder treatment in 2015, and the recent transition to 988 in July of 2022.

Joseph Haber, MA, MSW, LCSW is the Vice President of Legacy Treatment Services Ambulatory and Emergency Services Division. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey and a Certified Mental Health Screener. Joe’s experience spans the continuum of care and he is responsible for overseeing the agency’s emergency services and ambulatory services programming. Joe has spearheaded several new initiatives and is responsible for the development of several new programs including integrated care, community based crisis response and the development of co-response models to crisis. He has presented at the CIT International Conference and the NJAMHAA Conference. Joe also volunteers as a Disaster Response Crisis Counselor and as a member of the Traumatic Loss Coalition, contributing to community responses to traumatic events. He holds an MSW from Rutgers University, an MA in Forensic Psychology from Stockton University, and a BA in Criminal Justice from Stockton University.

Allison MacFadyen completed the graduate program for Mental Health Counseling at Shippensburg University in 2007. In the last 17 years Allison has primarily worked in community mental health in a direct service and/or supervisory role with newly acquired and developing programs in the PACT and Supported Housing service lines at Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services.  In March of 2017 Allison became the Director for Somerset County Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services when Bridgeway was awarded the Designated Screening Center by the Division of Mental Health and Addictions Services. With the recent acquisition of 5 counties of MCORT programs under the 988-service line, Allison was promoted to Vice President of Emergency Services for Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services with continued oversite over Somerset PESS, and new emergency service program elements including ARRIVE Together.

Allison has obtained her LPC, and ACS to ensure that each of the programs she leads, delivers a high level of clinical services. The Somerset County PESS program has not been a departure from her community outreach work as Somerset PESS in its current iteration is one of the few community-based models and the only “Living Room Model” Screening Center in the State of New Jersey. This model has increased Emergency Room Diversion for adults and children in achieving one of the highest diversion rates in the state and has ensured easy and timely access to Psychiatric Services in Somerset County.

Dr. Reed served as Senior Vice President for Practice Leadership at Education Development Center until his retirement in October 2021.  In this capacity, he directed the Suicide, Violence and Injury Prevention Portfolio.  He oversaw the work on multiple projects such as the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, the Zero Suicide Institute, the Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the Children’s Safety Network, and several violence prevention initiatives and also served as Co-Director of the Injury Control Research Center for Suicide Prevention with partners at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Prior to joining EDC, Dr. Reed served as a career public servant working in the Department of Defense leading Community and Family Support Programs in both the U.S. and abroad and served several years as a staff leader in the U.S. Senate for the late Senator Harry Reid (NV).

His interests include geriatrics, veterans and military mental health, public health and suicide prevention and response, global violence prevention and public policy. Dr. Reed co-led the committee that updated the 2012 U.S. National Strategy for Suicide Prevention with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin and served as an Executive Committee member of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Dr. Reed was recently an Adviser/Consultant to the Department of Defense Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee and serves as an Advisor for Stop Soldier Suicide and to the American Association of Suicidology and several other grant initiatives.

Dr. Reed received a Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences with an emphasis in Gerontology from the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond in 2007 and his MSW degree from University of Maryland at Baltimore in 1982 with an emphasis in Aging Administration.  He served in the United States Navy during the period 1974-1978.

Lorraine Soltis has worked as a geriatric care manager for the Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults, a division of the State of NJ Department of Human Services, since November 1998.  Currently overseeing staff and a caseload, this involves working with elderly people who have been found to be incapacitated by the Superior Court of NJ.  Prior to working for OPG, Lorraine worked in long term care and mental health. She has a M.S.W. from New York University and is a New Jersey licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).

Jonna Fritz has worked with the Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults (OPG), within the Department of Human Services, Division of Aging for the State of New Jersey since 2013. This office serves individuals over the age of 60 who are found to be incapacitated by the Superior Courts of New Jersey. Jonna is currently the Supervisor of Care Management overseeing 30 Care Managers and Support Staff. 

Before coming to OPG, Jonna worked in the mental health field in state-run Psychiatric Hospitals and in Community non-profit organizations. Jonna received her M.S.W. from Rutgers University, School of Social Work

On December 1, 2010, Wendy’s 16-year-old son T.J. died by suicide. Since T.J.’s suicide, Wendy has worked to educate herself on suicide risk and prevention to help others. She serves as Co-Chair of the NJ Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council, Chair for the NJ Chapter of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and is employed as the Suicide Prevention Coordinator for Bergen County.  She is a certified trainer for QPR and Vital Cog: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace. Her passion is to help children and families maintain mental wellness and to understand when help is needed and how to connect to the appropriate resources. 

Dr. Mike Anestis is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and an Associate Professor of Urban-Global Public Health at Rutgers University.  His work focuses on suicide prevention among both servicemembers and civilians, with a particular focus on the role of firearms.  He is the author of approximately 170 peer reviewed scientific publications, as well as a book entitled Guns and Suicide: An American Epidemic.  In 2018, Dr. Anestis was awarded the Edwin Shneidman Award for early career achievement in suicide research by the American Association of Suicidology.

Program Manager, Governor's Challenge Suicide Prevention for Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families Dr. Samuel L. Hayes Jr., with 25 years of military service in the United States Air Force, leads New Jersey's "Governor's Challenge" within the Veterans Services division of DMAVA. As Program Manager, he directs efforts to prevent suicide among service members, veterans, and their families, implementing strategies to identify at-risk individuals, build community connections, and promote safety measures like lethal means safety. Dr. Hayes also plays a vital role in the "Unite NJ Vets" digital platform, which streamlines access to critical resources such as benefits, housing, and mental health services. Additionally, he coordinates DMAVA's "Mental Health First Aid" training, ensuring that communities can support veterans facing mental health challenges. His career includes over a decade working with at-risk youth at the New Jersey Youth Challenge Academy, where he rose to the position of Academy Director, helping guide young people toward success. Dr. Hayes remains deeply committed to supporting veterans and their families through proactive, compassionate leadership in the Veterans Service Division of DMAVA.

Ian Brady is a retired, disabled veteran who served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps. His service consisted of multiple duty stations nationally and overseas with two combat tours in Iraq. Ian is currently employed by the Department of Veteran Affairs as a Peer Specialist. His focus with the VA is working directly with veterans who have/are struggling with suicidality.  

Dr. Robert Eilers is the Medical Director at the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. He is Board-certified in adult psychiatry with subspecialty certification in administrative psychiatry and forensic psychiatry. Dr. Eilers is also an Adjunct Professor at Drexel University School of Medicine where he teaches a course on scientific writing and the interpretation of the medical literature. He had received his M.D. from Thomas Jefferson College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, and his M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.

Dr. Kimberly O’Brien is the founder and director of Unlimited Resilience, LLC, a group mental health practice designed for athletes by athletes, and the co-founder and director of Better Together, an athlete peer mentoring program. She is also a research and training consultant at the Behavioral Research & Training Institute at Rutgers University. Dr. O’Brien received her BA from Harvard University (’00), where she was a four-year member and co-captain of the hockey team which won a National Championship in 1999. She obtained her MSW (’05) and PhD (’11) from Boston College and completed her postdoctoral fellowship (’13) at Brown University. Her research is focused on the development and testing of brief interventions for suicidal adolescents and their families, with additional specializations in substance use, interventions which utilize technology, and athlete mental health and suicide prevention. She is currently working on an NIMH-funded project to test the effectiveness of a positive affect intervention for adolescents psychiatrically hospitalized for suicide risk and an NINR-funded study to assess the effectiveness of a motivational intervention for vaccine uptake among Latinx adults with mental illness. Dr. O’Brien has co-authored over 75 articles and book chapters related to adolescent suicide, substance use, and mental health, and was awarded the Young Investigator Research Award from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in 2019. She is also the co-author of Emotionally Naked: A Teacher’s Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk. In addition to providing individual and group therapy in her practice, Dr. O’Brien works with high school and college teams across the country on mental health, mental skills, and suicide bereavement and prevention. She continues to stay involved in athletics as she coaches hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, and baseball, and plays hockey, golf, pickleball, and platform tennis.

Kendall Martin is a former Division I Javelin athlete. She threw for UC Santa Barbara’s track and field team for five years, while majoring in Sociology and Applied Psychology. In her time there, she was able to create a sports psychology group in her athletic department to increase mental health resources, as well as give a TEDx talk on her journey to define herself beyond sport in hopes her story might help others. These opportunities allowed Kendall to understand that her purpose and passion is to support athletes in their journeys to sustain wellbeing and confidence amongst the intense pressures of their lifestyle. Kendall has been able to continue this endeavor as an Athlete Mentor for the Better Together organization, and as a Head Campus Captain for The Hidden Opponent. Alongside these projects, Kendall is a personal trainer at Equinox to better understand the physical exercise component of helping individual clients reach their goals. Kendall will begin a masters program in sports counseling psychology at Boston University next fall in pursuit of a career in sports psychology

Declan Maguire is a senior at Colorado College, majoring in Economics, and a proud member of the men's lacrosse team. Originally from New Jersey, Declan lived in Hingham, MA, for the past 20 years. Declan attended St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, MA, where he played Varsity hockey and lacrosse.

During Declan's time in college, he overcame two melanoma diagnoses, which, along with the struggles of mental health, profoundly impacted his life. Lacking a strong support system at the time, Declan developed a deep passion for helping other student-athletes navigate similar challenges, ensuring they avoid harmful situations to themselves or others.

Maureen is the Program Manager for the Statewide Traumatic Loss Coalition. The Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Program (TLC) at Rutgers-University Behavioral Health Care is New Jersey's primary youth suicide prevention program funded by the Department of Children and Families. Maureen is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor and a Diplomate at the American Academy of Experts in Trauma. She is a Master Trainer in the evidence based practice of suicide prevention Question Persuade Refer. She is a certified Talk Saves Lives trainer for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and the assistant producer of Signs Matter: Early Detection online suicide prevention training for educators. She is a certified Psychological First Aid Trainer (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

Maureen is the co-chair of the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council and a member of the Child Fatality Review Board. Maureen also sits on the New Jersey Child Assault Prevention advisory board.

She is an experienced conference presenter, clinician, with over 25 years post-graduate experience in a variety of clinical and administrative positions, including extensive experience in providing treatment, psychological first aid, and traumatic stress interventions with youth, adults, and families.

Stephen Chukumba (he/him/his) is an activist, advocate, and accomplice to change, working to raise awareness about the myriad of issues impacting LGBTQ+ people and communities.

A single father of four children, one of whom is transgender, Stephen is raising and amplifying the voices, issues, and concerns of Black gender-expansive people and their families as a Black Youth Advocate and Ambassador of the National Black Justice Coalition. He is a member of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Parents for Transgender Equality Council.

Stephen Chukumba is the father of Hobbes Chukumba, one of the four youth organizers of Trans Prom. This historic first event brought 100 trans youth and adults to the National Mall for a joyous moment of self-acceptance and a call to action for elected leaders to enact policy that provides safety and support.

Stephen is featured in the Emmy Award winning Netflix documentary short, The Dads, directed by award-winning filmmaker Luchina Fisher and executive produced by Dwyane Wade. The film shares the stories of five dads accompanying Dennis Shepard, father of Matthew Shepard, on a fishing trip in Oklahoma to discuss their love, hopes, and fears for their trans children.

A powerful voice in the documentary, Stephen is vocal and passionate about the intersectional challenges facing BIPOC transgender people, their families and the country. His compelling advocacy extends beyond the screen, as Stephen actively collaborates with community organizations, striving to foster empathy, drive meaningful change, and create a more inclusive society for everyone.

Recognizing the virtual absence of the voice and experiences of Black fathers of LGBTQ+ children, Stephen has been involved with local, regional, and national activism and advocacy since his son invited him into his knowledge of self almost seven years ago. As a facilitator, speaker, and coach, Stephen works with BIPOC parents and parent groups to help them develop empathy for gender-expansive people.

A trusted voice on issues of race, gender, and intersectionality, Stephen produces a podcast, the Parent Advocate. He is active on TikTok and other social media platforms, discussing issues including transgender inclusivity sand his journey with his son.

Stephen is an agile coach, helping businesses develop nimble approaches to deliver customer value. An alumni of Seton Hall Law School and Rutgers University (New Brunswick), Stephen lives in Trenton, New Jersey, with his children, Asha, Chima, Hobbes, and Fuji, and their cat Zero.

Jade Bechelli has over 15 years of experience in public policy and government affairs. Currently, she serves as the Policy Advisor for Governor Murphy, focusing on Children and Families and Agriculture. Jade is a graduate of The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management where she earned a master’s degree in political management. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Arcadia University in political science and women and gender studies. 

Lu Pereira is the Director of the Office of Student Support Services at the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), where they oversee critical initiatives to support youth mental health and student well-being. This office, along with support across the New Jersey Department of Education, plays an important role in Governor Murphy's Strengthening Youth Mental Health Initiative, driving efforts to promote school-based mental health services, social and emotional learning, and positive school climates across New Jersey. As the Project Director for New Jersey's $15 million School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program, Lu focuses on increasing the number and diversity of mental health providers in schools, ensuring students have access to the care they need. They also oversee initiatives related to anti-bullying, chronic absenteeism, and the implementation of multi-tiered systems of support. Through their work, the Office of Student Support Services is committed to promoting school environments that address the emotional, social, and academic needs of students, fostering safer and more supportive schools across the state.

Ms. Sullivan is the Director of the Disaster & Terrorism Branch of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. She is a certified Disaster Response Crisis Counselor, trained in the FEMA and Red Cross models and is currently a part of the Division of Mental Health and Addictions’ Disaster and Terrorism Branch which develops contingency planning for the public’s mental health needs surrounding various types of emergencies. Sullivan is a graduate of Villanova University and holds a Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. She holds licenses as a Professional Counselor and Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. 

Jeff Carrick is the Deputy Director of Administration for the Children’s System of Care, a division in the New Jersey Department of Children and Families that coordinates behavioral health and I/DD programs and services for affected youth and their families.  Jeff oversees the Office of Integrated Health and Wellness, which advances the Department’s suicide prevention work.  He has built his career in behavioral health services, having worked in adult and youth serving systems for nearly three decades. Jeff is personally and professionally committed to youth mental wellness and to one day realizing a world in which suicide no longer exists.

Suchir Govindarajan is the Special Assistant to the Secretary and a Policy Analyst at the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. His responsibilities include co-leading the agency’s budget strategy, advancing key basic needs and mental health initiatives, assisting the Secretary of Higher Education in coordinating special projects, and supporting various outreach and policy functions. Govindarajan earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English at The College of New Jersey with minors in Public Health and Russian Studies. 

Jack Auzinger is a Behavioral Health & Child Welfare activist working to make systemic changes based on his Lived Experience as a youth in those systems. His principal work is advocating for youth and families and co-designing solutions with system administrators to create a better future for NJ youth. He is currently a consultant with the New Jersey Department of Children & Families (DCF), expanding on his work as an inaugural member of the DCF Youth Council. Jack also played a key role in the creation of the NJ Sibling Bill of Rights and reviewed proposals for a $1.4 million grant, developing a peer-to-peer mentoring program for foster youth. The work he spearheaded continues to change the lives of youth affected by child-serving systems across the state.

Ms. Blakney received her dual Master's in Human Sexuality Education and Marriage and Family Counseling from New York University in 1998. She spent over 10 years in NYC working with homeless and runaway lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, intersexed, and questioning youth.  Ms. Blakney has a strong background in youth development, youth empowerment, mentoring, mental health and behavior change. Transitioning from direct services, Ms. Blakney spent several years researching, replicating, and evaluating evidence-based programs through the CDC Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative. After returning to New Jersey Ms. Blakney refocused her efforts on delivery of evidence-based programs to youth, training and education of youth serving professionals and expanding access to youth mental health and social and emotional learning programs in schools. Currently, Ms. Blakney works for the New Jersey Department of Health as the Program Manager of the Child and Adolescent Health Program, where she oversees multiple youth focused programs. Ms. Blakney is also the State Adolescent Health Coordinator for New Jersey, Vice President of the National Network for State Adolescent Health Coordinators and the Principal Investigator for the Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Intervention Grant funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Ekansha Tabhane is a senior at McNair Academic High School and a dedicated youth mental health advocate. With a deep commitment to promoting mental health awareness, she serves as the New Jersey Youth Advisor for the National Governors Association (NGA), where she collaborates with the NJ Department of Health, the Governor’s Office, and other state departments to develop strategic plans addressing youth mental health in the state.

As a co-lead for the activation team at Work2BeWell, Ekansha creates vital mental health resources for students, parents, and educators, while promoting awareness and engagement for clubs within schools and communities. She is also an active member of the NJ Department of Health Voice of Youth Planning Committee and the Garrett Lee Smith Grant Youth Suicide Youth Planning Committee, where she has been contributing for over a year to help shape public health initiatives for New Jersey youth.

At school, Ekansha holds the role of vice president of the Active Minds Chapter, where she leads meetings and plays a key role in organizing school-wide mental health awareness events.

Sarah M. Adelman is the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, overseeing the state's largest cabinet-level agency with a staff of nearly 8,000 and a budget of approximately $25 billion.  The Department serves half of New Jersey’s children and one in four adults, providing healthcare, food and child care assistance, mental health and addiction services, aging and disability services, and more.

Under her leadership, the Department now provides universal access to health care for children through the Cover All Kids program, has increased monthly food assistance benefits, and expanded timely access to addiction services including creating the nation’s only year-round free and anonymous naloxone access program. She also chairs the Governor’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council.

Commissioner Adelman led the agency through the COVID pandemic, ensuring programs were available to serve families with new and existing needs. She has prioritized investments and growth in the care economy and workforce, adding more than $2 billion in funding to increase wages and improve training, recruitment, and retention in direct care, home health, child care, and behavioral health. 

Prior to becoming Commissioner in January 2021, Adelman served as Deputy Commissioner overseeing the Developmental Disabilities, Aging Services, and Medicaid divisions. Adelman holds a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from Rowan University and was an Advanced Healthcare Leadership fellow at Seton Hall University in the New Jersey Healthcare Executives Leadership Academy.