The Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Network (LASPN) has appointed Dr. Daisy Gomez as its newest Co-Chair, joining its leadership team to assist with its ongoing efforts in suicide prevention across the county.
Dr. Daisy Gomez is a proud native of South Los Angeles with over 15 years of experience in community violence prevention, specializing in gang reduction and youth development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a Master’s in Forensic Psychology and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology.
A dedicated restorative practitioner, Dr. Gomez focuses on building compassionate systems of care. Her work centers on supporting high-risk and vulnerable populations including individuals and families impacted by complex trauma, systemic injustice, incarceration, and foster care through culturally responsive and healing-centered approaches.
She actively partners with researchers, community-based organizations, and government agencies to design reformative initiatives that expand education and equitable access to mental health services.
Dr. Gomez is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Coalition for Advanced Restorative Equity (CARE4LA), a nonprofit organization committed to nurturing those who care for our communities through restorative professional development, workforce well-being, and leadership cultivation.
The current co-chairs, Tracie Andrews, Cheryl Eskin, and Franklin Romero, expressed their excitement to have Dr. Gomez join the team in an announcement via email. “We are thrilled to have her join our leadership team and look forward to the valuable contributions she will bring to our ongoing efforts in suicide prevention. Her experience and perspective will be a significant asset as we continue to focus on our mission to prevent suicide. We are excited to move forward with Dr. Gomez in this meaningful work together.”
September is Suicide Prevention Month and #SuicidePreventionWeek is September 8th-13th, a time in which individuals, organizations and communities around the country join their voices to broadcast the message that everyone can play a role in suicide prevention. Here are some actions you can take during Suicide Prevention Month and beyond to #StartTheConversation at home, at school, and in your community!
Educate yourself and others about suicide warning signs and how to help.
Pain isn’t always obvious. Reach out to someone you are concerned about if you observe one or more of these warning signs, especially if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change:
Talking about or making plans for suicide
Displaying severe/overwhelming emotional pain or distress
Expressing hopelessness about the future
Putting affairs in order and/or giving away possessions
Showing worrisome cues or changes in behavior, such as:
Withdraw from or change in social connections or situations
Changes in sleep
Anger or hostility that seems out of character or context
Recently increase agitation or irritability
If you are concerned about someone, trust your instincts and ask: Are you thinking about suicide?”. And remember that you are not alone in helping someone find their reasons for living. Call or text 988 to reach the Access & Crisis Lifeline (24/7) for yourself or to find support in helping someone else.
Find Hope in Yourself and in Community
If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide, sometimes you have to take things moment by moment. Whether it’s connecting with others, breathing, journaling, or reminding yourself of how far you’ve come, there are many small steps you can take. To learn more, visit Now Matters Now, a great resource that uses evidence-based practices to support people in crisis. Learn more at NowMattersNow.org
The 60-second film “Right Now” was created by youth for the Directing Change Film Contest to show how someone can manage thoughts of suicide in the moment.
Engaging in cultural and community traditions can help give us a sense of belonging and support. In the youth-created 60-second film “Rewrite Your History” a young person explores their struggle to feel connected to their Native heritage.
Youth Council Member Katelyn G. created an animated graphic that can be downloaded as part of the Youth Suicide Prevention Month Activities Toolkit from Youth Creating Change. Download it here: www.YouthCreatingChange.org/events
On September 10th, Light a Candle to Symbolize Hope. On World Suicide Prevention Day, light a candle near a window (or on social media) to show your support for suicide prevention, to remember a loved one, and for survivors of suicide loss.
People who have lost someone to suicide often do not receive the same compassion from others that those who have lost a loved one another way experience. Some of this is because people are uncomfortable talking about suicide. Consider reaching out to someone who has lost a friend or loved one to suicide. Ask them about how the person they lost lived rather than focusing on the way they died. The more we talk about suicide and suicide prevention, the more we can reduce the stigma around the subject and infuse our communities with hope and healing.
Support Groups:
Survivors After Suicide (SAS) https://didihirsch.org/services/suicide-prevention
Healing Conversations: Personal Support for Survivors of Suicide Loss https://afsp.org/healing-conversations
And finally, check in with yourself and with someone in your life. Remind them that they are never a bother. If you need help or someone to listen, connect with one of these resources.
The Los Angeles Department of Mental Health and the Faith-Based Advocacy Council will be hosting an interfaith clergy roundtable on Oct. 8, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Northweast Mental Health Center in Los Angeles. The roundtable discussion will bring together faith leaders, community members and mental health professionals to discuss how they can collaborate to improve mental health resources, reduce stigma, and strengthen the well-being of the Los Angeles community. This event is intended to provide an opportunity to meet fellow leaders, learn about the programs and services offered, and explore ways leaders can partner to support those in need.
SA4 Clergy Interfaith Collaborative: The Clergy Roundtable Meet and Greet
When: Wednesday October 8, 2025, 10:00AM-12:00 PM
Where: Northeast Mental Health Center, 3303 N Broadway La Ca 9003
The Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Network is now accepting nominations for the 4th Annual LASPN Hero Awards now through Sunday, July 27, 2025. Each year the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Network (LASPN) seeks to award local Los Angeles residents who advocate and lead in both suicide prevention and mental health advocacy. Residents are asked to nominate both youth and adults that show extraordinary efforts in reducing suicide and increasing help-seeking.
Submit your nominations in by Sunday, July 27, 2025 through the QR codes or click on the descriptions in the PDF.
We invite researchers, practitioners, advocates, and those with lived experience to submit proposals for presentations, workshops, and panels for our upcoming 15th Annual Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Network Summit. LASPN25 will be held during Suicide Prevention Week with the theme: Transforming Pain into Purpose: Building Communities of Hope.
This year’s theme focuses on innovative strategies, lived experience insights, and community-driven approaches that foster strength and healing during challenging times. We seek submissions that explore:
Culturally responsive approaches to suicide prevention
Evidence-based, and community-led suicide prevention initiatives
The role of lived experience in shaping support systems
Intersectionality and suicide prevention in marginalized communities
Promising practices that address mental health in the current social climate
Each year the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Network (LASPN) seeks to award local Los Angeles residents who advocate and lead in both suicide prevention and mental health advocacy. Residents are asked to nominate both youth and adults that show extraordinary efforts in reducing suicide and increasing help-seeking. New award categories were added this year and a total of six awards were granted.
The Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Council is Proud to recognize the 2024 Awardees!
The Los Angeles Suicide Prevention is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Network’s 3rd Annual Hero Awards. Each year LASPN seeks to award local Los Angeles residents who advocate and lead in both suicide prevention and mental health advocacy. Residents are asked to nominate both youth and adults that show extraordinary efforts in reducing suicide and increasing help-seeking. Residents can submit nominations through July 15, 2024, by clicking the links below.
2024 LASPN Dr. Sam Chan & Dr. James Cunningham Hero Award for Outstanding Leadership Award: Award to honor an outstanding leader, champion, or change maker in Suicide Prevention in Los Angeles County. The direct actions of this person or agency have led to or strengthened suicide prevention awareness, mental health and stigma reduction, help-seeking, resource delivery, and/or collective community support.
Award to honor an individual or organization in the greater Los Angeles area, who has been an outstanding advocate on a specific group within the suicide prevention field. This person may advocate or care for attempt or loss survivors, youth, LGBTQI groups, communities of color, individuals with differing abilities, or other communities with diverse and unique needs.
The Hero Award for Outstanding Youth is for a young person (under age 26), council, or youth organization that is advocating, providing outreach, and/or facilitating educational opportunities to enhance suicide prevention efforts in the greater Los Angeles area.
Award to honor an organization within the greater Los Angeles area that prioritizes effective relationships and collaborations within and/or across disciplines to tackle difficult issues related to mental health and suicide prevention. This may include partnerships across disciplines, county sectors, geographic areas, and more.
Award to honor a person or organization in the greater Los Angeles area who has implemented new, exciting, and innovative suicide prevention efforts and/or strategies. These may include solutions that are technology-driven, directly targeting inequities in communities, addressing emerging issues, fostering previously unused methods of communication, and more.
Each year the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Network (LASPN) seeks to award local Los Angeles residents who advocate and lead in both suicide prevention and mental health advocacy. Residents are asked to nominate both youth and adults that show extraordinary efforts in reducing suicide and increasing help-seeking. Three awards are offered each year: the Outstanding Youth Hero Award, the Outstanding Leadership Hero Award, and the Outstanding Advocacy Hero Award.
The Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Council is Proud to recognize the 2023 Awardees!
Laura Abbasi (she/hers) is an Associate Regional Field Director with Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country. She works to elevate suicide prevention and awareness in support of the efforts of Moms Demand Action Chapters across the country and also manages the California Chapter. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Hofstra University and a Master’s degree in Political Science from the NewSchool for Social Research. Laura is a passionate community organizer, honoring with action her brother Jeffrey Banish, who died by suicide. Laura lives in Thousand Oaks with her husband Siddique Abbasi and their three young children, Aamina, Elijah, and Rayah.
Susan Oriente (she/hers) is a High School Specialist and classroom instructor with an B.A. from Wesleyan University and a M.A. from California State University Dominguez Hills. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and beagle. Susie joined a New Hope Suicide Grief Support group after the suicide loss of her baby brother in 2019. She went on to become a facilitator who led many groups before co-authoring the New Hope Suicide Grief Support Handbook. Along with this leadership in the adult Survivors After Suicide (SAS) community, she created curriculum and facilitated New Hope’s first on-campus teen SAS group following a suicide loss on campus. Susie has now joined the New Hope SAS Training team and was able to train over 30 community health workers in LAC DMH to facilitate groups throughout LA.
“I’m Cloe Robinson (she/they), a teen advisor for Teen Talk App. Mental health has always been an important factor in my life, whether it be my own, or that of a loved one. I am so fortunate to have been able to work with Teen Talk and JBBBSLA for the last three years to make a tangible difference in my community. I’ve been able to support myself, and to make meaningful connections with users and people in my life who are struggling. This fall, I am attending UC Davis to study animal science on a pre-veterinary track. I hope to continue my work with Teen Talk and the topic of mental health during my college career.”
