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Susan H. Eastgard, Executive Director YSPP

Sue Eastgard is a nationally recognized expert in the field of suicide prevention - see news of her recent award below. She has worked on mental health issues for 25 years as a clinician, manager and director of crisis services and suicide prevention efforts. She was the President of the American Association of Suicidology in 2002 and was the program chair for the Association’s 1997 National Healing after Suicide Conference.

Ms. Eastgard has provided on-site technical assistance to numerous states across the US as they develop their suicide prevention plans. She is frequent keynote speaker at state, national and international suicide prevention conferences.  She has several relevant publications: “My Experience Working with the Media After Kurt Cobain’s Suicide,” SIEC Bulletin, Winter 1995 and Jobes, Berman, O’Carroll, Eastgard and Knickmeyer, “The Kurt Cobain Suicide Crisis: Perspectives from Research, Public Health and the News Media.” Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior Fall 1996.

Ms. Eastgard has served as the director of the Youth Suicide Prevention Program of Washington State since 1997. In this capacity she is responsible for the development, implementation and delivery of programs directed at young people, caring adults and parents to reduce the incidence of youth suicide in Washington State. She has produced adult-focused educational materials (i.e., brochures, posters) which have resulted in a 10% increase in the public’s awareness of youth suicide prevention messages. She has developed a website that receives ¼ million hits per month. She has written innovative classroom curriculum for 9th grade health students (H.E.L.P.) and has trained thousands of teachers, social service providers and parents how to recognize the signs for suicide and how to get help.

She previously served as the executive director for the Seattle-King County Crisis Clinic for 3½ years. During her tenure she transitioned the agency from a mainframe to PC-based computer system and implemented a new phone service called TEEN LINK, a help line answered by teens for teens.

Sue holds a masters degree in social work from the University of Washington. She is also certified as a Master Trainer for the ASIST program, a suicide first aid training program designed to teach suicide intervention techniques to teachers, counselors, nurses, mental health professionals and others who work with youth.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

American Association of Suicidology to recognize Sue Eastgard!!!

We are pleased to announce that Sue Eastgard, Executive Director of the Youth Suicide Prevention Program, will receive the Roger J. Tierney Service award in Orlando this April at their 43rd annual conference. The Roger J. Tierney Service Award recognizes time and effort given by an AAS member to advance the association's principles, growth and development, and /or applied contributions to the fields of suicidology and crisis intervention. We here at YSPP know all too well the time and dedication Sue has brought to this important cause; and we back her continued efforts for the prevention of youth suicide. Congratulations, Sue!!!

YSPP Staff:

Sue Eastgard, Executive Director

Jennifer Barron, Deputy Director

Heather Carter, GLBTQ OUTLoud Project Coordinator

Lisa Watson, Curricula Coordinator

Donna Flock, Communications Specialist/
Administrative Assistant

Raquel Reyes, Office Assistant

YSPP Board Members and Affiliations:

Michael Wood, President
Watson Wyatt Worldwide
Senior Consultant

Seattle, WA

Scot Reynolds, Vice-President

Self-Employed Investment Consultant

Federal Way, WA

John Wilcox, Treasurer
Avista Corporation
Financial Reporting

Spokane, WA

Tracey Lyman, Secretary

The Northwest School

Human Resource Manager

Lake Forest Park, WA

Kathryn Portteus, Immediate Past President
Law Office of Kathryn R. Portteus

Attorney

Gig Harbor, WA

Henry Berman, MD, Past President
Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center
Specialist in Behavioral Adolescent Medicine

Seattle, WA

Molly Adrian

University of Washington
Child Health Institute

Seattle, WA

Joan Conrad
Community Advocate
Auburn, WA

Jeri Hedrick
Community Advocate
Spokane, WA

Jack Knellinger

Director, Youth Venture Seattle

Seattle, WA

Marko Liias
State of Washington Representative
21st Legislative District
Edmonds, WA

Leslie Walker, MD
Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center -
Child & Adolescent Medicine

Seattle, WA

Barbara Wolff
Community Advocate/
Mental Health Educator
Des Moines, WA

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