Core Projects
Directing Change
Directing Change is a school-based mental health and suicide prevention program designed and implemented by Youth Creating Change designed to shift norms around suicide prevention within schools and communities. Framed as a film contest, the program has engaged diverse youth across California for nearly a decade. Students create short films on mental health and suicide prevention, applying their knowledge through hands-on filmmaking and communicating action-oriented, culturally relevant messages to peers. This process promotes learning of suicide warning signs, encourages help-seeking behavior, and aims to reduce stigma.
What’s next? In its next phase, we aim to assess the program's impact through a mixed-method randomized trial in 40 high schools across California, with additional funding sought for implementation in New York State.
Team
New York University
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Pamela Aileen Morris-Perez, Ph.D.
FOUNDER, ARCADIA Center for Suicide Prevention
PROFESSOR, Department of Applied Psychology, NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
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Adam Benzekri
DOCTORAL STUDENT
New York University
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Catalina Cañizares, Ph.D.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR/FACULTY FELLOW
New York University
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Abiraahmi Shankar, MSc.
SENIOR RESEARCH COORDINATOR
New York University
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Wyatt Alpert, Bsc.
FIELD COORDINATOR
New York University
Youth Creating Change
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Jana Sczersputowski, MPH
FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Youth Creating Change
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Shanti Bond-Martinez, MPH
SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER
Youth Creating Change
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Devin Saragosa-Harris, MPH
SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER
Youth Creating Change
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Stan Collins
CONSULTANT IN THE SUICIDE PREVENTION FIELD
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Past Affiliates
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Rachel Abenavoli, Ph.D.
CO-INVESTIGATOR AT ARCADIA
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Jennifer Burns, B.S.
SENIOR PROJECT COORDINATOR
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Chris Rodrigues, M.A.
DATA ANALYST
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Jaimie Chin
ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST
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Anne Gill, Ph.D.
CLINICAL SUPVERVISOR
University of Pittsburgh
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Katherine Guyon-Harris, Ph.D.
ASSISSTANT PROFESSOR
University of Pittsburgh
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Leah J. Hunter, Ph.D.
ASSISTANT RESEARCH PROFESSOR
University of Pittsburgh
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Julia Gsjewski-Nemes
DOCTORAL STUDENT
University of Pittsburgh
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Milly Godwin
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
University of Pittsburgh
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Bobbie A. Hall
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
University of Pittsburgh
Featured Publications
Coming Soon…
Benzekri, A., Morris-Perez, P., Abenavoli, R., Boccieri, G. R., Alvarez, K., Russell, S. T., ... & Collins, S. (2023). Directing Change: A Novel Approach to Addressing Disparities in Suicidal Behaviors among Latine and LGBTQ+ Youth. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/U39CF
(under review) Morris-Perez, P., Shankar, A., Abenavoli, R., Sczersputowski, J., Saragosa-Harris, D., Benzekri, A., Collins, S., Canizares, C., Russel., St., Alvarez, K., (2025). How does suicide prevention in the form of a film contest affect youth and schools? School Mental Health.
WeCare
WeCare addresses rising suicide attempts among Black youth by implementing a system-level strategy in emergency departments to improve risk identification and connection to care. It integrates two evidence-based approaches: universal screening using the Computerized Adaptive Screen for Suicidal Youth and an adapted SAFETY-ACUTE model that works with Black youth, families, and community stakeholders to address treatment barriers. The program also includes follow-up text messaging to enhance engagement. WeCare aims to increase referrals treatment engagement and reduce suicidal ideation and behavior, supporting national goals for youth suicide prevention and providing a model for scalable, transformative change.
Team
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Pamela Aileen Morris-Perez, Ph.D.
FOUNDER, ARCADIA Center for Suicide Prevention
PROFESSOR, Department of Applied Psychology, NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
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Ashleigh Aviles, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE
New York University
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Jaimie Chin
Past Affiliates
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Alan Mendelsohn, M.D.
CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
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Daniel Shaw, Ph.D.
CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
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Rachel Abenavoli, Ph.D.
CO-INVESTIGATOR AT ARCADIA
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Jennifer Burns, B.S.
SENIOR PROJECT COORDINATOR
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Chris Rodrigues, M.A.
DATA ANALYST
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Elizabeth B. Miller, PhD.
RESEARCH DIRECTOR
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Anne Gill, Ph.D.
CLINICAL SUPVERVISOR
University of Pittsburgh
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Katherine Guyon-Harris, Ph.D.
ASSISSTANT PROFESSOR
University of Pittsburgh
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Leah J. Hunter, Ph.D.
ASSISTANT RESEARCH PROFESSOR
University of Pittsburgh
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Julia Gsjewski-Nemes
DOCTORAL STUDENT
University of Pittsburgh
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Milly Godwin
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
University of Pittsburgh
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Bobbie A. Hall
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
University of Pittsburgh
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Caitlin Canfield, Ph.D.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
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Anne Seery, Ph.D.
DIRECTOR
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
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Erin Roby, Ph.D.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
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Danruo Zhong, Ph.D.
RESEARCH SCIENTIST
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
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Margaret Griffin, B.A.
RESEARCH COORDINATOR
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
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Victoria Guevara, B.S.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
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Lusia Vaca-Condado, B.A.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Featured Publication
Morris‐Perez, P., Abenavoli, R., Benzekri, A., Rosenbach‐Jordan, S., & Boccieri, G. R. (2023). Preventing adolescent suicide: Recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, program developers, and researchers. Social Policy Report, 36(2–3), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/sop2.30