A18 - Unpacking the Unknowns: A Framework for Evaluating Suicide Prevention in the United States

Monday, April 27, 2026

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM MDT

Location: Bluebird 2G

Attendees will learn what is required to build a whole-of-society approach to evaluating suicide prevention progress in the U.S., including, the international evidence on national strategy effectiveness and key methodological gaps. They will learn about "Hope Counts", an initiative of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and the early work to develop a shared theory of change, nested logic models, and initial metric identification. Attendees will hear about the emerging vision for national–local alignment and ways communities may engage with the evolving evaluation framework.

Learning Objectives:

Describe best practices in evaluating national strategies for suicide prevention and identify current gaps in evidence and methodology internationally and in the U.S.
Explain the emerging U.S. evaluation framework, including the theory of change, nested logic models, and early metric identification, being developed through the Hope Counts initiative.
Identify ways partners from different sectors might engage in a whole-of-society approach to evaluating progress toward national suicide prevention priorities in the U.S.

Disclosure(s):

Victor R. Armstrong, MSW: No financial relationships to disclose

Kristen Quinlan, PhD: No financial relationships to disclose

Colleen Carr, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose

Deb Stone, ScD, MSW, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose

Breakout Presenter(s)

Victor R. Armstrong, MSW

Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Charlotte, North Carolina

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Kristen Quinlan, PhD

Senior Research Scientist
EDC
Waltham, Massachusetts

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Slides
Colleen Carr, MPH

Director, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
EDC
Waltham, Massachusetts

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Deb Stone, ScD, MSW, MPH

Senior Director for Knowledge & Review
The Jed Foundation
New York, New York

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose