Network providers, community partners and elected officials gathered on Sept. 23 for the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County’s (ADAMH) 2026 Annual Meeting.
This year’s meeting, “Prevention Through Partnership: Addressing Suicide Together,” featured community leaders in suicide prevention who shared their perspectives, experiences and collaborative strategies for strengthening prevention efforts across Franklin County.
ADAMH CEO Erika Clark Jones shared local suicide data that reinforces why suicide prevention demands urgency. She noted that at least 191 Franklin County residents died by suicide in 2025, with white, non-Hispanic males experiencing the highest suicide rate and Black, non-Hispanic males experiencing the second-highest rate among the county’s population.
“Suicide is a complex issue, and the data we discussed underscores this,” Erika said. “Awareness is an important starting point, and prevention requires all of us to understand the issue and recognize opportunities to work together across systems and communities to reach individuals who need support.”
Erika was followed by Howard Washington, Pastor of Second Baptist Church and Vice Chair of the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition, who echoed Erika’s call for collaboration across systems and communities to strengthen suicide prevention efforts.
Drawing on his experiences as a pastor and as a family member of someone who died by suicide, Pastor Washington spoke about the lasting impact of silence surrounding suicide. He encouraged faith communities to create spaces where people feel safe talking about mental health and seeking help, particularly within Black communities where suicide can remain under-discussed.
Pastor Washington called for stronger partnerships between faith communities and behavioral health organizations, noting that churches bring trust, presence and community reach, while organizations such as ADAMH bring behavioral health knowledge and guidance.
“Together, we can build a stronger bridge between sacred trust and clinical care,” he said.”
The panel explored suicide prevention from several perspectives, highlighting the importance of taking a coordinated, community-wide approach. Panelists included:
- John Ackerman, Clinical Manager, Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Tony Coder, CEO, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
- Angela Damon, Executive Director, LOSS Community Services
- Bhuwan Pyakurel, Interpretive Services Coordinator at PrimaryOne Health and President of Reynoldsburg City Council
Panelists emphasized that prevention extends beyond clinical settings and can happen in schools, faith communities and everyday interactions. The discussion reinforced that suicide prevention is a shared responsibility and that stronger connections across systems and communities can help ensure people have access to support when they need it.
View a replay of the panel discussion here:
The meeting’s call to action extended beyond the discussion, with takeaway resources, including Find Your Anchor boxes and other 988 and suicide prevention materials, available for attendees to take with them as practical tools for starting conversations and connecting people to support in their own communities.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of annual scholarships and awards. The awards recognized the outstanding efforts of individuals in the behavioral health network. A special award was presented to Franklin County Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce in recognition of his tireless advocacy for mental health, including his work through Soul Talks, an initiative that creates honest, accessible spaces for conversations about mental health.
Scholarship recipients
Annual Award winners
Missed the meeting? View the full replay below: