The most important shift in youth suicide prevention is not happening in a behavioral health examination room. It is happening in how adults choose to listen.
That was the lasting change to emerge from the Pele Chandler Youth Suicide Prevention Symposium, led by Texas Children’s and Baylor College of Medicine in collaboration with the Houston Area Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Violence and Injury Prevention Research Center. Leaders across healthcare, research and community work arrived with different roles but left with a shared understanding: prevention works best when young people are treated as partners and when systems are built long before a crisis begins.
Rather than centering solely on warning signs, the symposium reframed prevention as a relationship — one grounded in trust, cultural understanding and consistency. That idea was reinforced by keynote speaker Brandon J. Johnson, a national suicide prevention leader and founder of The Black Mental Wellness Lounge. Brandon challenged participants to move beyond awareness campaigns and short-term fixes, emphasizing that youth do not need more programs created without them, but systems that reflect their lived experience and earn their trust.
That message sharpened the symposium’s outcomes. Participants agreed that youth voice must be embedded into care models, research and policy, not added after decisions are made. When young people feel seen and valued, systems become more accessible and more effective.
The conversations also emphasized the role of connection. Community health workers were recognized as essential bridges who reduce stigma and help families navigate care. Researchers and clinicians identified gaps not only in services, but in how prevention is measured, calling for community-engaged research that centers protective factors, not just risk.
From those discussions, a clear set of recommendations emerged:
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Reduce barriers to mental healthcare and expand school-based services
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Normalize mental health conversations across pediatric and specialty care
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Strengthen partnerships among health systems, schools and community organizations
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Support parents and caregivers with education, resources and navigation support
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Embed youth voice and lived experience into care models, research and policy
“Suicide prevention is not something any one group can do alone; it demands that we step out of our silos and build on our strengths while identifying and addressing gaps,” Diane Kaulen, senior community initiatives coordinator and co-organizer of the symposium, said. “The goal of this symposium is to bring us together to focus on upstream interventions, collaboratively and intentionally.”
What remained after the symposium was not a schedule of events, but a shared commitment. Prevention, participants agreed, is not a moment of intervention; it is a system built on listening, collective responsibility and hope.
That commitment was made visible through the symposium’s Youth Photovoice Showcase. Young people took the lead by using photography and personal reflection to share their perspectives on mental health, resilience and the pressures they face. Photos from the showcase will be displayed on the Auxiliary Bridge on January 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., extending the conversation beyond the symposium and inviting the broader community to engage with youth voices.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Pele Chandler Youth Suicide Prevention Symposium or getting involved with our other community initiatives, please contact dbkaulen@texaschildrens.org.