Addressing Suicide Risk – Prevention, Stigma, and Support

Dr. Alex Bettis is a licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at VUMC. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Vanderbilt University in 2018, and completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship in the UCLA Semel Institute General Child Track. Dr. Bettis completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in the Brown Medical School Child Mental Health T32 program prior to joining the faculty at VUMC. Alex has been a member of ADAA for several years, is co-chair the Suicide and Self-Harm Special Interest Group and co-chair of the Ailes Muskin Career Development Leadership Awards Program.

Jill Harkavy-Friedman, PhD is the Senior Vice President of Research and leads the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s research program to advance the field of suicide prevention. AFSP's research program provides funding to research grants, offers workshops and training to researchers, and disseminates research findings to increase public awareness and support advocacy in mental health and suicide prevention. With over 35 years of experience as a clinician and a suicide prevention researcher, she is passionate about translating research into practice, publishing over 100 peer-reviewed articles and training clinicians around the nation. She assists with AFSP’s development of programs and messages that reflect best practices and current research. She works with other national and international research organizations to help set the suicide prevention research agenda and encourage innovative research.

Dr. Harkavy-Friedman earned her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and her PhD. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Florida. She completed her internship at Yale-New Haven Hospital. In 1984, she joined Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, establishing the Adolescent Depression and Suicide Program. In 1989, she moved to Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute where she is an associate professor in the department of psychiatry.  She joined the staff AFSP in 2011. She maintains a clinical practice in Manhattan.

Member Since 2010

Dr. Debra Kissen is CEO of Light On Anxiety CBT Treatment Center. Dr. Kissen specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and related disorders. Dr. Kissen is the author of the Panic Workbook for Teens, Rewire Your Anxious Brains for Teens: Using CBT, Neuroscience, and Mindfulness to Help You End Anxiety, Panic, and Worry (The Instant Help Solutions Series) and the soon to be released Break Free from Intrusive Thoughts: An Evidence-Based Guide for Managing Fear and Finding Peace. Dr. Kissen also has a special interest in the principles of mindfulness and their application for anxiety disorders. Dr. Kissen has presented her research on CBT and mindfulness-based treatments for anxiety and related disorders at regional and national conferences. Dr. Kissen is the Co-Chair of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America Public Education Committee. Dr. Kissen was the recipient of the 2020 Gratitude for Giving Spirit Award  and the 2018 Anxiety Depression Association of America Member of Distinction Award. 

Dr. Kissen often serves as a media psychologist and is available for press inquiries and strives to further the dissemination of empirically supported treatment (EST) information by offering user friendly quotes and simple to understand, practical tips and solutions to help mental health consumers move past stress and anxiety.

Dr. Kissen and ADAA

"I was lucky enough to do my early practicums under the leadership and guidance of Dr. Karen Cassiday who is now president of ADAA. I learned from Dr. Cassiday that time spent with ADAA is one of the best professional investments that I could make. Through continuing education, professional connections and additional contact with mental health consumers, ADAA is truly my professional home. I have always had a passion for enhancing dissemination of empirically supported treatment protocols to mental health consumers. The public education committee offers a wonderful opportunity to create innovative programming to reach mental health consumers where they are, not just in the treatment room. I hope the future of mental health care delivery will allow for many more opportunities to expand access to mental health care through public education initiatives such as those spearheaded at ADAA."