Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas has spent her career as a trained, licensed psychologist and student affairs administrator. She has seen students struggle with mental health issues, and she witnessed her younger brother, Carson, fighting his.

Two weeks before a great Tsunami hit the coast of Asia in 2004, Carson made a decision to end his own life. Although his family had tried repeatedly to get him help, Carson could no longer cope with the shame and desperation of his struggle.

Devastated and lost, Spencer-Thomas realized that she was experiencing her own sensation of drowning.  The ripple effects and aftershocks of her brother’s decision were life altering. Like the tsunami survivors half a world away, Spencer-Thomas realized that it would be a long journey back to a feeling of “normal.”

Be a Shining Light of Hope

Every college campus must confront the issues related to suicide at some point. Students will have friends who attempt or complete suicide, and their communities will deal with issues of fear, grief, and recovering from tragedy.  Every campus should be addressing not only suicide prevention, but the ways in which their community responds when a suicide or attempt occurs.

In her program, Be a Shining Light of Hope, Spencer-Thomas offers campus community members a solid understanding of the mental health and community issues surrounding suicide.  On the individual level, she discusses the factors that drive individuals to consider or attempt suicide, and she offers friends a set of warning signs to watch for. On the community level, she helps staff and faculty consider the prevention, intervention, and response strategies that really work.  Using storytelling, statistics, and solid research, Spencer-Thomas hits all the angles.

This program is perfect for staff and peer education training, Suicide Prevention Month, mental health and wellness programming, and more. 

"When thinking about coming, I was reluctant because I didn't see the relevance to my own life - as soon as the speaker mentioned depression, I couldn't believe how dense I was being and that I almost missed this. My little brother is clinically depressed, and it is relevant because you can never tell who or where or when you might be confronted with a suicidal situation."

Student
University of Oregon
January 2008

"I expected a really depressing presentation but she didn't make it sad - more useful and helpful."

Student
University of Oregon
January 2008

Question, Persuade, Refer:
The Gatekeeping Program

You have heard of CPR; but have you heard of QPR?

QPR* (“Question, Persuade, Refer”) is CPR for the mind. This 1.5 hour workshop about the myths and truths about mental health and suicide is for those on the front lines, helping students in crisis. This program has been implemented in universities and workplaces all over the world. In this workshop, Spencer-Thomas, a certified QPR instructor, will train students, staff, and faculty who are ready to provide assistance.

Although QPR does not qualify someone as an expert in suicide prevention, it is like CPR. It’s a way to provide an individual help until qualified assistance can be located. It’s a series of simple techniques that can save a life when a crisis occurs.

It’s a perfect training for those needing practical action steps to improve mental health services and suicide prevention on campus. Consider this training for residence life, faculty, peer education, campus police, crisis response teams, and other service providers on your campus.

(*QPR is a registered trademark of The QPR Institute, Inc. and is used by the speaker with permission.)

Planning for the Worst: After a Suicide

Suicide just occurred on your campus. There was no plan to help those affected, and fear of copycats is a real concern.

Suicide “post-vention” is immediate crisis intervention for those affected by a suicide, and every college should prepare for a time when the need arises. This workshop helps your student life staff and other university personnel prepare. This hour-long workshop will help you fight the possibility of other suicides and copycat behaviors, create a plan to cope with the trauma and grief in your community, and set the community back on a path to normalcy.

Do not wait until a suicide occurs. Act now so that a tragedy in your campus community can be handled professionally and responsibly.

About Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas

Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas is the executive director of the Carson J Spencer Foundation, a non-profit committed to preventing suicide and sustaining a passion for life by seriously addressing issues of mental disorders. She also currently serves as the Director of Leadership Development at Regis University in Denver.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Psychology and Studio Art from Bowdoin College and continued to get her Psy.D. in Psychology from the University of Denver. She has received numerous professional awards, including the BACCHUS & GAMMA National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week Award and Outstanding Advisor Award.  She has presented on the topic of suicide to several national and international audiences, including presentations for the FBI, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the National Association of School Personnel Administrators, and the American Association of Suicidology. She serves on the board of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado and has been the project director for suicide prevention grants from both Colorado’s Office of Suicide Prevention and the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant).

She lives in Denver, Colorado, where she is an avid marathoner.