Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Research Summit
Preventing Suicide and Self-Harm
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Register to attend this free event by April 30 – in-person or virtual.
Reception to follow.
Did you know?
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10 to 24. In this age group, death by suicide is more common than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza and lung disease combined.
Research saves kids' lives
Suicide and self-harm are preventable. Researchers, clinicians, and community members each have a distinct, life-saving role to play in supporting positive outcomes.
Seattle Children’s Research Institute will host its second annual Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Research Summit, focusing on suicide and self-harm prevention.
The summit will highlight Seattle Children’s research presenting new discoveries and proven interventions designed to save youth lives. Through a mix of scientific presentations, panel discussions and professional networking, the summit aims to foster the partnerships necessary to move from evidence to action.
Join us as we translate latest findings into life-saving support for youth and families facing self-harm and suicide. We welcome researchers, healthcare providers, policymakers, students and community members to the conversation.
Summit Keynote Speaker: Jeff Bridge, PhD
“Suicide Prevention in the Pediatric Primary Care Setting”
Dr. Bridge received his PhD in epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. He is currently the director of the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
He holds the Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair of Innovation in Behavioral Health Research and is a professor of pediatrics, psychiatry, and behavioral health at Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Bridge’s work focuses on the epidemiology of suicide and suicidal behaviors among youth, with an emphasis on enhancing quality of care and improving outcomes for young people at risk of suicide.
Agenda
9 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Vittorio Gallo, PhD
CEO Remarks
Chris Longhurst, MD, MS
9:15 a.m.
Mission Moment
9:30 a.m.
Research Talks: Prevention and Treatment
10:20 a.m.
Break and Networking
10:45 a.m.
Panel Discussion: Prevention and Treatment
Panel focus: Where are the gaps in research that are needed to inform clinical care?
11:30 a.m.
Lunch and Networking
12:30 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Jeff Bridge, PhD
Epidemiologist and Director of the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Suicide Prevention in the Pediatric Primary Care Setting
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Suicide is a leading cause of mortality among young people in the United States. About 80% of youth who die by suicide saw a primary care clinician (PCC) in the year before death. Despite the importance of identifying youth at risk for suicide in primary care settings, most PCCs do not routinely screen for suicide risk. This presentation will briefly review the epidemiology of suicide in young people, explain why the pediatric primary care setting is a promising clinical site for suicide prevention and describe the design, methods and preliminary findings of an ongoing effectiveness-implementation trial of the Stepped Approach to Reducing Risk of Suicide in Primary Care (STARRS-PC).
1:30 p.m.
Break and Networking
1:45 p.m.
Research Talks: Special Populations
2:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Study Design and Special Populations
Panel focus: How can we adjust our research approaches to ensure everyone can benefit from research?
3:15 p.m.
Closing Remarks
3:30 p.m.
Reception to Follow
Venue Information
Seattle Children's Research Institute: B. Wayne Hughes Building, also known as Building Cure
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Contact Us
For questions about the summit, please reach out to [email protected].