Understanding Suicide: Real Stories, Root Causes and Pathways to Healing
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Vermonters aged 15-44. Just as troubling, 14% of high school students report having made a suicide plan in the past year. These startling statistics highlight a national challenge--each year, more than 13 million U.S. adults seriously consider suicide.
Why are so many people in Vermont—and across the country—impacted by suicide? And more importantly, what can we do to help them find hope and healing?
In recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we’re bringing together voices from across the field—people with lived experience of suicide, clinicians, and frontline providers—to explore what’s really driving suicidal despair and what we know about how to support people through it.
Panelists will share both personal and professional insights into the emotional, social, and systemic factors that drive suicidality, and the innovative approaches that offer real pathways to recovery. Together, we’ll learn about Four Pines Fund’s work to transform suicide care in Vermont and across the U.S., and explore what compassionate, effective support looks like in practice.
Join us September 4th from 3:00-4:30 PM at Hula for this discussion. A networking reception will follow the event.
Panelists
Dr. Craig J. Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical psychologist in cognitive behavioral psychology, and an internationally recognized expert on suicide prevention, trauma, and resilience. As of September 1, 2025 he is a Professor of Psychiatry at The University of Vermont where he leads suicide care initiatives.
Lindsay Mesa is a leader in alternative mental health and peer support, with 15 years shaping programs and training that have reached thousands across Vermont. As a driving force at Pathways Vermont, she builds innovative services that foster choice, connection, and community—work deeply informed by her own lived experience and losing a parent to suicide. She holds a Master's Degree in Sociology from New York University.
Four Pines Fund is a philanthropic organization dedicated to expanding access to evidence-based suicide care to all who need it—both inside and outside of clinical settings. Through strategic investments and partnerships, they aim to close the gap between what research demonstrates is effective and the care people typically receive.
