LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Network (LASPN) and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) hosted the 15th annual summit and awards ceremony this week during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month to raise awareness and decrease the number of suicides in Los Angeles County.  

This year’s theme, “Transforming Pain to Purpose: Building Communities of Hope,” highlights innovative strategies, lived experience and community-driven approaches. The summit featured breakout sessions for historically underserved communities, military service members and veterans, healing through connection and community, and more.  

“Suicide prevention requires collaboration — across public health, education, faith communities and the media,” said LACDMH Director Dr. Lisa H. Wong. “The LASPN is integral in continuing the momentum of strengthening partnerships and collaborating on innovations that are needed to reduce suicide and support healing. Together, we’re building hope one person, one family, and one system at a time.” 

LACDMH and its partners actively and continually provide hope to people in crisis. In 2024, L.A. County’s 988 Suicide Prevention Center received 73,357 calls, chats and texts, and the Didi Hirsch Teen Line answered 6,693 calls, emails and texts. During Fiscal Year 2024-25, LACDMH’s own 24/7 Help Line responded to more than 63,000 crisis calls. 

This week, on Tuesday, LASPN also recognized dedicated community members in the field of suicide prevention. The event featured a performance from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, a keynote presentation from Michelle Carlson, a consultant in youth development and mental health, and remarks from Dr. Wong; Danielle Gautt, Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism for the L.A. County Department of Health Services; Kristin Sakoda, Director of the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture; Andrea Welsing, Director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention; and, Cheryl Eskin, Senior Director of Didi Hirsch’s Teen Line. 

This year’s award winners are:  

• Our House Spanish Community Program — Dr. Sam Chan and Dr. James Cunningham Hero Award for Outstanding Leadership in the field of suicide prevention.
• Indigenous Circle of Wellness — Hero Award for Collaboration to honor an individual or organization that prioritizes effective relationships and collaborations across disciplines to tackle difficult issues related to mental health and suicide prevention.   
• Dotti Ysais, Project Director III, Los Angeles County Office of Education — Hero Award for Innovation to honor an individual who has implemented new, exciting and innovative prevention strategies that are technology-driven, target inequities in communities, address emerging issues, foster previously unused methods of communication and more. 
• Jacqueline Diaz Fontana, CEO, You Are Enough Foundation — Sam & Lois Bloom Hero Award for Outstanding Advocacy to honor those who have been a dedicated advocate for a specific group or community, including attempt or loss survivors, youth, communities of color, LGBTQI groups, the disabled community or others with diverse and unique needs. 
• Sydney Seff, Teen Line Listener — Dr. Elaine Leader Award for Outstanding Youth to recognize a young person, council or youth organization that is advocating, providing outreach and/or facilitating educational opportunities to enhance suicide prevention efforts. 
• Michelle Carlson — Inspirational Mentor Award in recognition of extraordinary leadership, perseverance and advocacy in inspiring the future. 
• Richard Mogil, Coordinator of Suicide Prevention and Bereavement Services for Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services — Light in the Darkness Award in recognition of the nominee’s years of endless compassion, understanding and support for suicide loss survivors. 

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About the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) 

As the nation’s largest public mental health department, we ensure access to care and treatment for our most vulnerable residents in a region nearing 10 million people. With an annual budget exceeding $4.4 billion and over 7,600 budgeted positions, LACDMH is dedicated to hope, recovery, and wellbeing for everyone across the County. For more information, visit dmh.lacounty.gov or follow @LACDMH on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram and YouTube.