Hello and welcome to Prevent Suicide NJ’s official blog! PSNJ is New Jersey’s most comprehensive resource for suicide prevention. Our mission is to collaborate with state departments, professional and community organizations, schools, and families to reduce suicide, diminish the stigma of suicide, and support those touched by suicide.
PSNJ transformed from an idea to a reality when the New Jersey Department of Health received a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in late 2021. This grant, the Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Youth Suicide Prevention Grant, aids NJDOH in partnering with organizations across NJ. Organizations such as the New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Monmouth University, the Society for Prevention of Teen Suicide, and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families have helped to propel PSNJ to full fruition.
PSNJ launched in the fall of 2022 with the help of our dedicated partners. Since then, we’ve collaborated with different organizations, schools, community members, and professionals who are passionate about preventing suicide among youth and young adults. This past year, NJAAP was able to bring four amazing individuals onto the Adolescent Health/Youth Suicide Prevention GLS team! Program Manager, Lanette Mantle and Program Coordinator, Marlana Dant have worked at NJAAP for a year now and have helped to implement various trainings, summits, and partnerships across New Jersey! In addition, NJAAP’s Suicide Prevention Youth Associates, Daniel Dias and Carlee Fisco, joined the team to assist Marlana and Lanette.
Together, the team hosted two Youth Wellness Summits, attended various panels and conferences, hosted suicide prevention trainings for mental health and medical care specialists, and aided in creating the site you’re on right now! Here at PSNJ, we aspire to spread wellness, positivity, and hope to everyone who crosses our path. We hope that this blog inspires you to do the same for yourself and for your community!
Writer
Lanette Mantle
Lanette Mantle, MPH is NJAAP’s Program Manager for the Adolescent Health and Suicide Prevention Program since May of 2022. Lanette graduated from Rutgers University in 2020 with her Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences and Sociology and from Rutgers Biomedical and Health Science School of Public Health with her Master’s in Health Systems and Policy in 2022.
Lanette is extremely passionate about social justice and providing adequate health access for all, most specifically in suicide prevention. In her free time, she likes to go on hikes, read, and spend time with her cat, Miso.