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Our Origin Story

The National Association for the Advancement of Suicide Prevention (NAASP) was born out of disruption, grief, and a refusal to accept the status quo. After years of public health and suicide prevention work across local, state, and national systems, Dr. Walker Tisdale saw firsthand how fragmented efforts and underprepared workforces, left people in crisis without consistent, high-quality care. Layered onto this was his own lived experience as a loved one of a suicide attempt survivor, suicide prevention is not just a professional purpose but a personal mission. NAASP was conceived and exists as a national, independent home for capacity development of evidence-informed suicide prevention focused on mental health professionals, suicide prevention coalitions, peers, trainer/educators, and all people with lived experiences.

Dr. Tisdale and a network of current, former colleagues, individuals with lived experience, peers, community members, and a host of champions convened for over a year to build a foundation for NAASP’s mission.
The NAASP was created to address under-developed pillars in national suicide prevention, including capacity building for the suicide prevention workforce and systems-level accountability. The NAASP is a nonprofit dedicated to building a prepared, coordinated, and suicide-capable workforce, so that every person at risk is met by highly competent systems and highly confident professionals.

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Our Team

Amy Andre

Senior Advisor

Founding Member

Robert Day
Senior Advisor

Shevon Jones

Senior Advisor

Founding Member

Martha Kent

Senior Advisor

Founding Member

Sean Snyder

Senior Advisor

Founding Member

Walker Tisdale III
Founder/CEO

Marti Vogt

Senior Advisor

Founding Member

How NAASP Advances Suicide Prevention

NAASP advances suicide prevention in five focused ways: building a skilled workforce, deepening capacity, protecting those who do the work, centering lived experience, and developing tools that get results. Here is how we do it—and how you can plug in.
Acess Free Technical Assistance
Advance the Suicide Prevention Workforce
NAASP connects mental health providers, researchers, educators, peers, and advocates to share knowledge, build coalitions, and drive change. We create space for thought leadership, mentorship, and collective action.
Build Capacity Through Coaching and Development
We provide training, consultation, and ongoing implementation support for providers, organizations, and partners across prevention, intervention, and postvention. NAASP does not just train—we coach, troubleshoot, and stay engaged so that evidence-based practices actually take root.
Set and Strengthen Standards for Self-Care
Those engaged in suicide prevention and crisis work face burnout and secondary trauma. NAASP develops and promotes standardize evidence-informed self-care guidance and protocols—because a sustainable workforce is the foundation of effective prevention.
Leadership in Lived Experience
Attempt survivors and loss survivors hold knowledge that research alone cannot provide. NAASP ensures they have genuine support, leadership roles, and a voice in shaping prevention strategy.
Incubate Innovative Solutions
NAASP is a development hub for new tools, models, and resources that address the field’s most pressing gaps. We work with researchers, communities, and practitioners to create solutions that are evidence-informed, culturally grounded, and built to scale across diverse settings.

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NAASP is growing its family of partners, practitioners, and community leaders. Whether you need a resource or want to collaborate—we want to hear from you.
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Areas of Expertise

  • Suicide prevention workforce development
  • Systems and policy change
  • Lived-experience leadership integration
  • Coalition building and sustainability
  • Burnout prevention and workforce wellness
  • Evidence-informed training and education
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Become part of a national network advancing suicide prevention in every community.

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Amy Andre

Senior Advisor Founding Member
Amy Andre is an accomplished public health leader with more than a decade of experience advancing federal behavioral health initiatives. As a Public Health Advisor at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), she managed nearly 200 federal grants and contracts addressing the needs of children, families, and underserved communities. Amy also chaired a national youth advisory committee and co-authored several publications on behavioral health among LGBTQ+ populations. She holds a master’s degree in Human Sexuality Studies and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was a Point Foundation Scholar.

Robert Day

Public Health Advisor and International Affairs Officer
Robert W. Day served as a Public Health Advisor and International Affairs Officer with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) from May
2013 to July 2025. During his 13+ years at SAMHSA, he managed major federal initiatives, including Emergency Grants to Address Mental and Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19; Emergency Response Grants supporting recovery efforts
following the East Palestine train derailment and the Club Q mass shooting; and national programs such as Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), Access to Recovery, Peer Support Services, HIV–High Risk Populations, and Building Communities of Recovery.
 
Mr. Day holds two master’s degrees with honors in Public Health and in Emergency and Disaster Management from American Military University.

Shevon Jones

Senior Advisor Founding Member

Shevon Jones, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, executive leader, and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of mental health, leadership, and organizational wellness. She is the Founder and CEO of Mental Wellness Collective, a multi-disciplinary group practice and consulting firm dedicated to providing culturally responsive care and strategic wellness solutions for individuals, organizations, and communities.

Shevon has worked across high acuity and systems level settings, including suicide prevention, acute psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment, and child welfare, giving her a deep understanding of both clinical care and operational leadership. Known for her ability to translate emotional intelligence into actionable strategy, she supports high functioning women, leaders, and teams in navigating burnout, alignment, and sustainable performance.

Through speaking, consulting, and program development, Shevon bridges mental wellness with leadership and impact-driven entrepreneurship.

Martha Kent

Senior Advisor Founding Member
Martha Kent, LCPC, is a behavioral health consultant, therapist, and public health advisor dedicated to advancing equitable, trauma-informed mental health systems. She is the founder of Snow’s Therapeutic Services and Pele Counseling & Consulting, where she designs and implements programs for at-risk and justice-involved youth and families. With experience in federal behavioral health policy and community-based program development, Martha advises organizations on culturally responsive care, strategic partnerships, and sustainable service models. As an advisor to the National Association for the Advancement of Suicide Prevention (NAASP), she supports initiatives that expand access to prevention, strengthen community capacity, and promote compassionate, evidence-based suicide prevention efforts.

Sean Snyder

Clinician, Researcher
Sean E. Snyder, DPA, MSW, LCSW, is a clinician, researcher, and implementation leader working at the nexus of suicide prevention, pediatric traumatic stress, and systems-involved youth. As Director of Implementation and Technical Assistance at The Baker Center for Children and Families, Sean leads state and national initiatives strengthening trauma-informed care across juvenile justice and child welfare settings. His scholarship includes peer-reviewed publications on suicide risk assessment, the Safety Planning Intervention for juvenile justice youth, and systems-level barriers affecting suicide prevention. A nationally certified TF-CBT trainer, Sean supports communities in translating evidence into trauma-responsive practice to better identify, engage, and protect children at highest risk for suicide and self-harm.

Walker Tisdale III

Founder/CEO
Walker Tisdale, DSW, MPH, MA, is the Founder and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Suicide Prevention (NAASP). Previously, he served as a Public Health Analyst in the Office of the Assistant Secretary at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). He has authored and co-authored publications on suicide prevention, public health, and health equity. Dr. Tisdale was the inaugural Director of Suicide Prevention for the state of Georgia, where he expanded suicide prevention capacity among mental health providers, chaired the statewide suicide prevention plan workgroup, and led a suicide prevention public policy workgroup on behalf of the state. As a national program lead for suicide prevention cooperative agreements and grant programs, Dr. Tisdale has developed federal funding announcements and monitored grant portfolios spanning 44 states and ten federally recognized tribal organizations. He has designed and led national and global learning events, conducted qualitative research, and presented on mental and behavioral health at state and national conferences, at the White House, and across numerous health organizations. His prior leadership roles at the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Red Cross, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reflect a career dedicated to advancing domestic and global public health.

Marti Vogt

CEO Mental Wellness

Marti is past and current Chairperson for the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Georgia (SPCG) and also the CEO of Mental Wellness Advisors LLC based in Alpharetta, GA. She is a content expert with over forty-five years’ experience in suicide prevention and mental health. Marti is a certified instructor for Mental Health First Aid, Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), as well as Sources of Strength. Marti has implemented numerous trainings, workshops, and presentations for thousands of professionals in her career to date.