About Us
MCSP is a broad-based inclusive alliance to prevent suicide.
MCSP members come from all backgrounds—community activists, advocates, legislators, public health and mental health professionals, coaches, consultants, nonprofit leaders, therapists, healing professionals, artists, authors, crisis workers, survivors of suicide attempts and people who have lost loved ones to suicide or are impacted by suicide.
We have a personal and professional passion for saving lives.
Our statewide coalition has actively worked for over 20 years to improve state and community linkages to reduce barriers to mental health, substance addiction recovery, domestic violence shelters and other community services.
Together we recognize the need for culturally responsive community-based support and training on suicide prevention. Each local community has a key role in ensuring community health and safety and forms a hub at the statewide level to mobilize key relationships for exchanging ideas for prevention activities
MCSP’s Annual Leadership in Suicide Prevention Awards State House Event was held in person on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. We recognized these incredible awardees for their accomplishments in suicide prevention in Massachusetts.
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Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Adrian Madaro: Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
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Jack Jordan: Lifetime Achievement Award
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Cheryl Poppe: Secretary of the Department of Veterans Services
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The 988 Implementation Team
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Toy Burton: Founder, Dee Dee’s Cry
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Nora and John Salovardos: Montachusett Suicide Prevention Task Force
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John Cox: President of Cape Cod Community College
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Christine Guthery: SPARK Kindness
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Executive Committee Members
The Executive Committee is the governing body responsible for the overall governance of the Coalition. Currently, the members are:
MCSP Staff (non-voting)
Jennifer Kelliher, Managing Director
Paula Tessier, Associate Director of Membership and Communications
State Agency Representatives
Danielle Bolduc, Director, Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention Program
Jessica McHugh, Department of Mental Health
Alliance for Equity Representative
Pata Suyemoto, Associate Director of Equity
Lead Member Representatives
Barbara Nealon, Heywood Hospital
Larry Berkowitz, Riverside Trauma Center
Jessica van der Stad, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP),
Stephanie G. Kelly, Samaritans on Cape Cod, and the Islands
Associate Member Representatives
Susan Weinstein, Families for Depression Awareness
Nieisha Deed, Public Speaker, and Founder of PureSpark
Corporate Member Representatives
Beverly Costa-Ciavola, Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Coalition
Individual Member Representatives
Eileen Sandberg
James Greer
Laura B. Rosenthal
Regional Coalition Representatives
Joanna Bridger, Co-Chair, Greater Boston Regional Coalition, MCSP Associate Director of Equity
Debbie Helms, Co-Chair, Northeast Regional Coalition
Annemarie Matulis, Bristol County Regional Coalition for Suicide Prevention
Jennie M Babcock, Chair, Plymouth County Suicide Prevention Coalition,
Barbara Nealon, Co-Chair, Montachusett Suicide Prevention Task Force
Sarah Gaer, Co-Chair, Central MA Suicide Prevention Coalition
Eileen Davis, Co-Chair MetroWest Regional Coalition
Brian Berkel, President, Berkshire Regional Coalition
Maura Weir, Cape and Islands Regional Coalition
Karen Carreira, Co-Chair of the Pioneer Valley Regional Coalition