Susan Tellone, MSN, BSN, CSN, RN, is a seasoned nursing professional with nearly 40 years of experience focused on mental health and youth suicide prevention. As Clinical Director of the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS), she has been instrumental in transforming the organization into a recognized leader in life-saving education and training, setting new standards in teen suicide prevention.

Susan’s early work with terminal cancer patients led her to psychiatric nursing, where she became one of the first psychiatric emergency screeners at Monmouth Medical Center. In 2008, after taking a position at Manasquan High School, she developed a Crisis Response plan during one of the largest teen suicide contagions on record. The plan later became a national model. She remains a prominent speaker at national conferences, continuing her mission to prevent youth suicide.

The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is a statewide non-profit organization that strives for people to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training and services. For more information visit our website ,https://www.mhanj.org/. Email our host, Merrill Altberg, MSA, Director of Communications, at maltberg@mhanj.org; email our guest, Jaime Angelini, MA, DRCC, AMTP, Statewide Director of Suicide Prevention, Crisis Response and Special Projects, at jangelini@mhanj.org.