Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in Washington, and in 2023, 30% of 10th-grade students felt so sad or hopeless for two weeks or more that they stopped doing their usual activities.
Nearly 40% of students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Educators and mental health experts say schools—where youth spend a great deal of their time—play a critical role in identifying students in distress and building environments where young people feel safe reaching out.
A multiyear partnership between The Jed Foundation (JED) and Forefront Suicide Prevention is expanding support for Washington state schools through suicide prevention programming at interested high schools to help strengthen emotional health systems, identify students who may be struggling, and connect young people with help. Research shows this evidence-informed framework successfully supports and improves student mental health, reduces suicide risk, and emotionally prepares students for the transition out of high school and into young adulthood.
To date, the JED High School delivered by Forefront program has benefited over 16,000 students across 22 different high schools enrolled throughout the state, with many reporting an increased sense of preparedness to support students’ mental health.
Dr. Tony Walker, Senior Vice President of School Programs and Consulting at JED, and Dr. Larry Wright, Executive Director of Forefront Suicide Prevention, will be available to discuss the growing youth mental health challenges facing students, why comprehensive school-based approaches matter, and how schools in Washington state and nationwide can and are working to strengthen prevention and support.
About Dr. Tony Walker and The Jed Foundation (JED)
Dr. Tony Walker is Senior Vice President of School Programs and Consulting at The Jed Foundation (JED), where he leads the organization’s school programs division. Prior to joining JED, he served as Vice President of Education Strategy and Innovation at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and previously worked as a teacher, school counselor, and executive district leader over Student Support Services. Dr. Walker holds a bachelor’s degree in Education, a master’s degree, and a PhD in Counseling, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified School Counselor. The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults by partnering with high schools, colleges, school districts, and youth-serving community-based organizations to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems.
About Dr. Larry Wright and Forefront Suicide Prevention
Dr. Larry Wright is the Center Director for Forefront Suicide Prevention. His career has focused on helping others lead full and healthy lives. He previously served as COO of Washington’s largest private scholarship provider, the College Success Foundation, helping first-generation college students find success in and out of the classroom. Dr. Wright’s public service includes appointments to the inaugural Washington State Charter School Commission, the HearMe WA Advisory Committee, and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s School Safety and Student Well-Being Advisory Committee. He holds a PhD in Mass Communication. Forefront Suicide Prevention is a University of Washington Center of Excellence offering training, education, and program support for suicide prevention, using a public health approach to support community-based suicide prevention work.
To learn more, visit www.jedfoundation.org.
This article is sponsored by The Jed Foundation (JED).