Join the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention leaders to discuss and learn about the latest policy and research updates on maternal suicide. This Congressional briefing will feature experts and leaders in maternal mental health and suicide prevention. This briefing is intended for Members of Congress, Congressional staff, advocates, and other stakeholders.
Opening Remarks
The honorable Representative Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) will offer opening remarks. Both are members of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus. Rep. Beyer also serves as the Chair of the Suicide Prevention Task Force.
Speakers
Jill Harkavy-Friedman, PhD., American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s SVP of.Research
Dr. Harkavy-Friedman of AFSP will provide a general overview of suicide in America to help set the context for maternal suicide. Dr. Harkavy-Friedman earned her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, her PhD. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Florida and completed her internship at Yale-New Haven Hospital. After, 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. Harkavy-Friedman joined AFSP in 2011 and maintains a clinical practice in Manhattan Jill Harkavy-Friedman, Ph.D., is the Senior Vice President of Research and leads the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s research program which funds research grants, offers workshops and training to researchers and disseminates research findings to increase public awareness and support advocacy. During her 35 years as a clinician and researcher, Harkavy-Friedman, has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and trained clinicians nationwide.
Sarah Brummett, Director of the Executive Committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Ms. Brummet will be presenting the Federal strategy for suicide prevention. Sarah is an expert in developing and implementing effective strategies for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. She works with the Action Alliance leadership team to provide oversight and support to the EXCOM and the Action Alliance task forces and advisory groups. She also is facilitating key opportunities to advance elements of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Before joining EDC, Sarah was the director for the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention. She provided leadership and oversight for statewide priorities and collaborated with state agencies and community organizations to design and sustain a comprehensive and coordinated public health approach to suicide. She also oversaw the Colorado Suicide Prevention Commission. Earlier in her career, she practiced family and appellate law for several years.
Dr. Katherine Wisner, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics, Associate Chief, Prenatal Mental Health, Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital; Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Dr. Wisner is a leading maternal mental health researcher and will discuss suicidality nuances in the perinatal population. Dr. Wisner obtained her M.S., in nutrition and M.D., from Case Western Reserve University, followed by a pediatric internship and general/child psychiatry residency and post-doctoral fellowship in epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Wisner also completed fellowships in professional and biomedical ethics. Her research advanced our understanding of the natural history of mood disorders across childbearing, benefit-harm decision-making for pharmacotherapy and the pharmacokinetics of medications across pregnancy and lactation. Dr. Wisner is internationally recognized as an expert in the treatment of mood disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period. She has received over $23 million from the National Institutes of Health and has 270 peer-reviewed publications and 23 book chapters.
Dr. Wisner was awarded the Woman in Science Award from the American Medical Women’s Association in 2011. From the American Psychiatric Association (APA), she received the Alexandra Symonds Award in 2012 and the annual Award for Research in 2017. She was honored with Distinguished Mentor Awards from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 and from Northwestern University in 2022. She received the Marcé International Society for Perinatal Mental Health’s Medal for lifetime contributions. Dr. Wisner served on the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Psychiatry and currently on the Boards of JAMA Psychiatry and Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. She is a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA. With her experience as president of the Marcé International Society for Perinatal Mental Health, Dr. Wisner developed the business startup plan for Marcé of North America (MONA) and was MONA’s inaugural president.
Sarah Foster, MPH Associate Director for Policy, Partnerships, and Communication, Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Sarah Foster is the Associate Director for Policy, Partnerships, and Communication in the Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She will provide an overview of the most current national maternal suicide statistics. Since 2016, Sarah has been in DRH and led efforts to build support and advance CDC’s efforts in topics including maternal mortality, preterm birth, and addressing the impacts of opioid use disorder on women and infants. Sarah came to CDC in 2000 as a Presidential Management Fellow in the National Immunization Program, where she worked on an initiative to address racial disparities in older adult immunization and was assigned to the Michigan Department of Community Health to conduct an evaluation of a peer-training program for ob-gyns on immunization. During her time at CDC, Sarah has served in a number of roles, including supporting programs to prevent injuries; providing leadership for a range of violence prevention efforts; coordinating Congressional requests during the H1N1 response; and overseeing logistics and vaccine management for the Vaccines for Children Program. Sarah has a BS in Biology and a MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education both from the University of Michigan.
Cindy Herrick, MA, PMH-C, CPSS Senior Editorial and Research Manager, Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health
Cindy will present key highlights from our maternal suicide issue brief (which is being refreshed through its annual cycle in time for re-release at the briefing). This will include policy levers for change and references to related recommendations from the Federal MMH Task Force.
Cindy serves as the Senior Editorial and Research Manager at the Policy Center, where she spearheads the development of publications and briefs that highlight gaps, evidence-based recommendations, and emerging considerations in MMH. She has led the Maternal Suicide program at the Policy Center since 2018 and is an expert in maternal suicide, MMH screening, and peer support policy. She is recognized for her ability to research and document MMH disorders from a holistic perspective. Cindy is currently pursuing her PhD in Nursing Science and Healthcare Innovation at Arizona State University and is the recipient of the 2023 Hartford Sun Health Predoctoral Scholarship and the ASU Graduate Fellowship Award.
