Keynote Speakers

​Jessica Bell, PhD, MPH
Dr. Jessica Bell is the Suicide Mortality Review (SMR) Program Manager at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) where she operates the state team and provides standard protocols, training, and technical assistance to local county health departments to support establishment of local SMR teams. She also leads the implementation of strategies developed to reduce suicide-related events under the Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP) Mental Wellbeing priority. Prior to her work at ADHS, she served as the Support Administrator for the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program (CSPMP) at the Arizona Board of Pharmacy where she developed and implemented strategies with the goals of decreasing opioid overdose deaths and preventing substance use disorder. Jessica earned a doctorate in Medicinal Chemistry and a Master of Public Health degree with an emphasis in Health Management and Policy from the University of Michigan.  

Frank R. Campbell, Ph.D., LCSW, C.T.
 Dr. Campbell is the Executive Director Emeritus of the Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center, where he founded the National Suicidology Training Center (NSTC) in 2018.  Dr. Campbell also serves as a volunteer Assistant Coroner in East Baton Rouge Parish.  In addition to his volunteer activities he is the Senior Consultant for Campbell and Associates Consulting where he consults with communities on Active Postvention efforts and Forensic Suicidology cases.  During his more than thirty years of working with those bereaved by suicide he developed the Active Postvention Model (APM) in 1997; it is most commonly known as the LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors).  His work with survivors and victims of trauma has been featured in three discovery channel documentaries, professional journals and book chapters.  He is a past-president of the American Association of Suicidology, a recipient of both national and international awards for his contributions to the field of Suicidology.  Dr. Campbell is also an Army veteran and is most proud to have been a consultant and contributor to the TAPS program for military family members who attend the survivor seminars and National programs for over a decade.  To learn more about his work in the field of Suicidology you can visit his website: www.lossteam.com or the NSTC at www.BRCIC.org

Teri V. Krull, LCSW, RPT-S, DCSW (NASW)
Teri V. Krull has a 40-year private practice treating children and providing consultation to professionals and parents.  A member of APT since 1985 and co-founder and first president of the Arizona APT, she served 6 years on the APT Board (2000 Chair) and is currently a board member of the National APT Foundation.  Teri is an international presenter in play therapy, prolonged grief, parenting, supervision and ethics. She has produced 4 educational films for long distance learning and has been published in the International Play Therapy Magazine.  In 2010 she was honored with the Arizona District and State NASW Lifetime Achievement Award.  Teri is licensed in both Arizona and Maryland. You can contact her at: www.playtherapy.tv or terikrull@playtherapy.tv
​

Stuart D. Smith      
Stuart Smith is a licensed psychotherapist serving clients in the greater Atlanta area. He served as Clinical Coordinator of the National Resource Center for Suicide Prevention and Aftercare at The Link Counseling Center for close to a decade. His professional interests include depth psychology, humanistic and existential therapies, and mindfulness. He has a particular interest in the value of the arts and nature to psychological well-being. He holds master’s degrees in interdisciplinary Humanities and in Human Development and Psychological Counseling as well as post-graduate certificates in Addictions Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy. He has taught college and graduate courses in applied Psychology and in the Arts and Humanities and serves on the advisory board of the Jung Society of Atlanta. His therapeutic work at The Link and his private practice in Atlanta is dedicated largely to grief work, relationships, and psychological growth over the lifespan. Stuart offers talks and workshops on a number of topics.

Cassie Villegas, LAC, CHC
Cassie oversees the Contact Center operations and clinical services in collaboration with other directors. Her primary role is oversight of the 988 program and to work collaboratively with departments to improve efficiencies and ensure the contact center is meeting accreditation standards. She previously served as both Compliance and Privacy Officer for Solari and has been certified in Health Care Compliance (CHC) through the Health Care Compliance Association since 2018 and is a Licensed Associate Counselor since 2022. Cassie has worked in the behavioral health field in various capacities including case management, intake assessment, counseling services, quality, and compliance over the last 19 years.   
 
Cassie earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona and her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a forensic specialty from Walden University.  

Breakout Speakers: 

​William Beverly, Ph.D., LMFT, CCHP
​Dr. Beverly is a licensed psychologist and faculty member in the counseling department at South Mountain Community College, where he also serves as Coordinator of the Behavioral Health Sciences program. Dr. Beverly has held leadership positions in a wide array of behavioral health settings overseeing numerous behavioral health programs across the state of Arizona, including residential treatment for teens, therapeutic group homes for adults with serious mental illness, forensic psychological services, sex offender treatment, and general outpatient counseling and psychiatric services. He was previously the Lead Psychologist for the Maricopa County jail system, where he co-developed a trauma-informed model for training officers working with inmates with mental illness and cognitive impairment. Dr. Beverly has conducted numerous workshops and published on the topic of suicide prevention and intervention with vulnerable populations. Dr. Beverly is also an adjunct professor at Northern Arizona University, where he has taught in the educational psychology department for the last 10 years.

Lisa M. Betthauser, Ph.D.
Dr. Lisa M. Betthauser obtained a PhD in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Health Psychology, from the University of Colorado, Denver. Prior to her doctorate, she earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Health Administration from the University of Colorado, Denver, in 2006. Dr. Betthauser is the Lead Trainer and Lead Consultant for the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention EBP Program with Suicide Prevention Program in the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, as well as a Clinical Psychologist with the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center. She has almost 15 years of research and clinical experience in suicide prevention among the Veteran and military population.

Corrie Brinley, MSW
Corrie Brinley, MSW has been practicing community-based participatory action research and program evaluation with people and communities affected by health and social disparities with SIROW since 2005. Ms. Brinley has served on over 20 different federally-funded community-based participatory action research and evaluation projects that support and promote the health of individuals and families experiencing poverty, homelessness, violence, incarceration, discrimination, and mental health and substance use problems. Ms. Brinley’s work has primarily supported substance involved women, LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, and Native American populations living in the Southwest.
 
​

David Covington, LPC, MBA
CEO, President and Partner at Behavioral Health Link and Former Vice-President at Magellan Health Services.  David W. Covington, LPC, MBA is CEO and President of Recovery Innovations, Inc. (d/b/a RI International). He is a behavioral health innovator, entrepreneur and storyteller. He is also a partner in Behavioral Health Link, and founder of the international innovations “Moving America’s Soul on Suicide,” “Zero Suicide,” “Crisis Now,” “Crisis Talk” and “Hope Inc. Stories.”  A licensed professional counselor, Mr. Covington received an MBA from Kennesaw State and an MS from the University of Memphis. He previously served as Vice President at Magellan Health, responsible for the executive and clinical operations of the $750 million Arizona contract. He is a member of the DHHS Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) established in 2017 in accordance with the 21st Century Cures Act to report to Congress on advances in behavioral health.  

Christiana Castillo, MPH
Christi Castillo, MPH, is the Project Coordinator of Project Lifeline, a SAMHSA Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention grant working to reduce the incidence of suicide, suicide attempts, and their related risk factors, such as alcohol and other drug misuse/abuse among students at The University of Arizona. Christi currently coordinates and facilitates QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Trainings on campus for faculty, staff, & students, and provides engaging workshops to students on various health topics, including general health & wellness, mental health, physical health, self-care, resilience, stress and sleep. Ms. Castillo has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and began her career working for CODAC Health, Recovery & Wellness Inc. in Tucson, Arizona, helping people with serious mental illness and general mental health conditions live healthier. She earned her Master of Public Health in the Behavior Health Promotion concentration from The University of Arizona in 2014 and has since been working for University of Arizona's Campus Health.
 

Suze Cucci, MA-HLP, CPHQ 
Suze Cucci, MA-HLP, CPHQ is a dedicated health care professional with over 23 years of experience, primarily in behavioral health residential settings, and with adults struggling with serious mental illness.  After transitioning out of direct service, Suze fell in love with data through population health and quality management leadership roles, eventually moving to the payor side to lead a large analytics team focused on value based and clinical quality improvement. As the Vice President of Strategy and Analytics at Pyx Health, Suze is able to use her experience in the clinical and payor settings to help guide the opportunities to address loneliness and social isolation across the most vulnerable populations.  

Mary Delaney, Ph.D.
​Mary Delaney is a licensed Psychologist with more than 35 years experience as a Psychotherapist in private practice. She is a practical intuitive specialist in teaching clients how to listen and to apply their intuition and inner guidance. Mary has taught graduate classes at Arizona State University, been published in the Journal of Psychotherapy, and lectured nationally on a variety of topics which focus on healing the body, mind and spirit. She is a co-author of the delightful children’s book “Moose, Bear and Hummingbird,” and has produced the breathing, relaxation and meditation CD, “Scared Spaces.”

Andrew Ecker
Andrew Ecker is a suicide survivor and has a relationship to generational substance abuse and incarceration. He has been working in peer support for more than 2 decades. Andrew has developed an evidence based approach to utilizing recreational music as a mental health intervention to support individuals, families and communities affected by suicide, substance abuse and mental illness. Andrew has a wealth of lived experience and years of working with groups with elevated rates of suicide including Native Americans, veterans, elders, youth placed at risk, groups with a relationship to severe mental illness and substance abuse. Andrew has facilitated thousands of wellness based interventions and has been featured on television, podcast, print and social media numerous times. Andrew has presented at many conferences including National Federation of Children's and Families Mental Health, Oklahoma Children's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Department, American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, Out of the Darkness Walk, Rise Suicide Prevention, Arizona Health Care Association, The Arizona Senior Center Association, The Arizona Therapeutic Recreation Association, Arizona Activities Coordinators Association, Assisted Living Federation of Arizona,The AZTEC awards, Spinal Cord Injury Association, Traumatic Brain Injury Association and many more.

​Erin Goldman, LMSW
Erin Goldman is a clinical social worker, currently on staff at Washtenaw Community College, where she served as a therapist and non-clinical case manager for students. Previously, she was at the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, where she serves as a lead clinical trainer for the US Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Ms. Goldman has over 20 years’ experience as a therapist in the private and public sectors as a therapist, focusing on work with children, adolescents and young adults. She earned both her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Michigan. Her treatment specialties include mood and anxiety disorders, self-harm and suicidal ideation, stress management, sleep problems, and relationship issues. Ms. Goldman’s work in suicide prevention began in 2004, while a staff therapist at Loyola University of Chicago’s Student Wellness Center. Since then, she has presented locally and nationally on suicide and suicide prevention. Ms. Goldman was a key contributor to the development and implementation of the VA’s national Suicide Prevention Telehealth program. She has trained law enforcement officers, educators, medical providers, community members, mental health professionals, and higher education faculty and staff; and has served as chair and board member of local, statewide and national suicide prevention coalitions. 

James M. Greenblatt, MD
A Functional Psychiatry pioneer, James M. Greenblatt, MD is a dually board-certified clinical psychiatrist with over thirty years of experience. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer at Walden Behavioral Care in Waltham, MA, and as a member of the clinical faculty at the Tufts University and Dartmouth College Geisel schools of medicine. Dr. Greenblatt is also the founder and Medical Director of Psychiatry Redefined, an online platform offering continuing medical education in Functional and integrative psychiatry. Dr. Greenblatt’s knowledge in the areas of biology, genetics, psychology, and nutrition as they interact in the treatment of mental illness has made him a sought-after speaker, and he has lectured both nationally and internationally on the scientific evidence for functional interventions in psychiatry. He has also published multiple books and articles for professional and consumer audiences on how to employ a Functional Medicine approach toward mental health treatment. His Psychiatry Redefined book series, which includes the acclaimed Answers to Anorexia (2nd ed) and Integrative Medicine for Depression, draws upon his decades of clinical experience, and will be expanding in Spring 2022 with the addition of the highly anticipated Functional Medicine for Antidepressant Withdrawal. For more information on Dr. Greenblatt and Psychiatry Redefined, visit: www.psychiatryredefined.org

Grace Kirker, MPA, CHES
​Grace Kirker is a Program Coordinator Senior at ASU Counseling Services and an advisor to the Devils 4 Devils and Active Minds student organizations. She supports the university’s mental health outreach efforts and the peer-to-peer program implemented at local high schools to create scalable, sustainable peer-led mental health initiatives. She has a background in suicide prevention and mental health promotion, youth substance use prevention, and community and program development and implementation.

Nikki Kontz, LMSW
Nikki is the Clinical Director for Teen Lifeline, a local non-profit dedicated to providing a safe, confidential and crucial crisis service where teens help teens make healthy decisions.  She has been working in the field for the past 16 years including work on a crisis mobile team, postvention intervention and assessment for hospitalization. Nikki possesses a master’s Degree in social work from Arizona State University and specializes in mental health issues, crisis intervention, suicide prevention/postvention and education, and adolescence.  She currently is a state Licensed Master Social Worker, a certified crisis worker through the American Association of Suicidology, field instructor for the Social Work Department at ASU, and serves as the President on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Paula McCall, Ph.D., NCSP
Dr. Paula McCall is an Arizona licensed psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist who specializes in working with children and adolescents in her private practice, Next Step Psychology. Dr. McCall has previously worked as a special education teacher and a school psychologist. She received her PhD in Educational Psychology from Arizona State University and has served as an adjunct professor for the University of Arizona. Dr. McCall is passionate about suicide prevention, and she has assisted multiple school districts in developing evidence-based suicide risk assessment procedures and partnered with organizations such as the Chandler Police Department to provide community outreach in this area. Dr. McCall has also developed parenting symposiums and a Zoom series to provide free community education on mental health in our youth, and she is currently in the process of forming a nonprofit organization to further support this endeavor.

Sandra T. McNally, MA, LISAC
Sandra McNally is a Master-level counselor and Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor in the State of Arizona. She has worked in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, and school settings as a counselor and administrator since 1987. In addition, she has been an adjunct professor since 1995 at institutions, such as Rio Salado College and Grand Canyon University, teaching various counseling classes and advising graduate-level practicum students.

Since 2000, Sandra has been the Prevention Manager for EMPACT-Suicide Prevention Center (SPC), overseeing suicide prevention and postvention programs.  She is on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition and serves on the Special Interest Group for Postvention for the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

Through her work at EMPACT-SPC, Sandra has conducted trainings and workshops at various national and international conferences for the American Association of Suicidology, the International Association for Suicide Prevention, and the European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behavior. She specializes in youth suicide prevention and school-based postvention, Survivors of Suicide Loss program development, and Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Teams.

Chad Myler, MS, CHES
Chad Myler is a Manager of Employee Health and Wellness Promotion at Life & Work Connections, where he oversees and evaluates programs that impact the population health of University employees, such as preventive health screenings, suicide prevention training, and financial literacy workshops. He has a Bachelor of Science in health promotion from Weber State University and a Master of Science in health promotion and education from the University of Utah. Chad is a certified health education specialist through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, as well as a Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper instructor through the QPR Institute. He has worked in health promotion and employee wellness in the private and public sectors, including a civilian position with the U.S. Air Force and roles at Usana Health Sciences and the Salt Lake County Health Department.

Monica Patton
Monica Patton is a suicide survivor and has worked in peer support for the past 6 years; her relationship to suicide began at 3 years old when her mom had a suicide attempt. Monica’s mother  would be hospitalized after her attempt for over 30 years eventually dying in a long term care facility . Monica has facilitated thousands of wellness based programs she has been featured on television and is currently working in suicide prevention. Her work is primarily focused on recreational music and meditative sound as an intervention, she has worked with populations with an elevated risk for suicide including Native Americans, Veterans, Elders, Youth placed at risk, groups with a relationship to severe mental illness and substance abuse. 

Sue Palmer
Sue Palmer is a Certified Spiritual Director and Silent Retreat Leader through the Ignatian
Spirituality Institute of John Carroll University. She has a Master of Science in Mental Health & Wellness with emphasis in Grief and Bereavement from Grand Canyon University. She has ten
years’ experience as a Spiritual Director companioning people on their faith journey, and has
led Women’s Retreats and Silent Retreats for church groups, retreat centers, and caregiver
groups. She has facilitated support groups for loss and bereavement, including DivorceCare and GriefShare, has been a volunteer for Hospice, and a hospital Spiritual Care Aid. She has led
workshops in Walking the Labyrinth, Writing, Journaling, Art as a Contemplative Practice, and
Spiritual Practices. She is a member of Spiritual Directors International, The Spiritual Formation
Society of Arizona, The Labyrinth Society, and The Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and
Death.

Morgan Phillips, LMSW, MPA
Morgan Phillips is a Licensed Master Social Worker and currently serves as the Prevention Coordinator at Teen Lifeline, a non-profit dedicated to preventing teen suicide in Arizona through enhancing resiliency in youth and fostering supportive communities. As Prevention Coordinator, she is responsible for providing consultation, policy development, awareness activities, training for adults and youth, and postvention services to schools, districts, and communities across Arizona. She received a Bachelor's degree in Human Services from the University of Iowa before going on to receive Masters degrees in Social Work and Public Administration. Morgan has experience working with adults with serious mental illness, transition age youth, children and families experiencing behavioral health issues. She specializes in youth suicide prevention and postvention, crisis intervention and adolescent mental health. Morgan is a certified trainer in SafeTALK, ASIST, Youth Mental Health First Aid and More Than Sad.

Terry Randolph, MA, LPC
Terry is a dynamic, driven professional with over ten years of senior management experience in operations, budget analysis, marketing and new business development. She has very strong skills in data analysis and have developed and integrated several innovative processes to create efficiencies. She has a strong track record of success with increasing both individual and agency wide productivity resulting in increased fiscal performance.  Terry is involved in local, state wide and national committees addressing a variety of strategic planning initiatives including, but not limited to, staff education, health information exchange, data informatics,
risk management and compliance monitoring, the use and development of best practices, and the development of outcome measures to ensure quality improvement. I utilize a mentoring style of management that encourages associates to collaborate and utilize their individual skills to achieve the organizations goals and objectives. Terry thrives on challenges and enjoy using her skills and expertise to find innovative solutions to move an organization forward.

Carol Turpin, RN, CM
Carol Turpin is an RN CM who has worked for Mercy Care for over 20 years (right out of nursing school).  She has been in a variety of CM roles, including maternal/child, medical, supervisory and management

Jessica A. Walker, Ph.D.                                                 
Jessica A. Walker, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist with over 12 years of service with VHA. She currently serves as the National Suicide Prevention Clinical Telehealth Coordinator, overseeing an initiative that provides virtual evidence-based psychotherapy and interventions to Veterans with a history of suicidal self-directed violence behaviors. Her previous VA work has included coordinating the National Problem-Solving Training (PST) program and the VISN 6 Telemental Health (TMH) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Hub.   A graduate of Lehigh University, she has authored and co-authored over 20 publications and presentations. Most recently, she co-authored a publication in the Clinical Gerontologist with other distinguished VHA colleagues: Problem solving training for veterans with complex comorbidities: Treatment delivery adaptations during COVID-19.

Kyrene Yazzie 
Yá’át’ééh! Kyrene Yazzie yinishyé. Shí eí Kinłichii’nii (Red House People Clan) nishłį, Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle Clan) bashishchiin, Kinyaa’aanii (Towering House Clan) dashicheii, Tachii’nii (Red Running into the Water People Clan) dashinalí.

Kyrene Yazzie (she/her) is Diné (Navajo) from Kayenta, AZ. Kyrene is an Arizona State University alumna with a Bachelor of Science in Community Health. Kyrene’s background has been in the fields of behavioral health care, substance misuse, suicide prevention, coalition work and environmental health. Kyrene works at the Phoenix Indian Center as a Prevention Program Manager with the Urban Indian Coalition of Arizona, providing awareness and education to American Indian youth, parents and community members about substance use and suicide prevention. In addition to providing oversight and coordination for the Prevention Services program, she facilitates workshops, training, and curriculum on the topics of parenting, suicide prevention, youth-targeted substance use prevention, prescription drug use and misuse prevention, and historical intergenerational trauma