The initiative will help equip pre-k-12 school-based nurses, counselors, social workers, and psychologists in identifying, screening, and referring to young people experiencing mental health challenges.
[October 1, 2025] – Phoenix, Arizona & New York, New York] – The Arizona Department of Education (ADE), a service organization committed to raising academic outcomes for students and empowering parents, announced today a multi-year partnership with The Jed Foundation (JED), a leading nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide among teens and young adults nationwide. ADE and JED launched an online training course to help Arizona school mental health professionals better identify, screen, and refer students who may be at risk for suicide. This initiative will equip school-based mental health professionals statewide, including nurses, counselors, social workers, and psychologists, with an evidence-informed suicide prevention training course.
“Across student age groups, suicide is one of the leading causes of death,” said Tom Horne, the Arizona Department of Education’s superintendent of public instruction. “It is imperative that our mental health professionals are provided with the latest information to help recognize, and the best practices to respond to the warning signs that may help families avert these devastating tragedies.”
The two-hour course, Suicide Prevention for Arizona School Mental Health Professionals, will train participants to:
“School-based mental health supports are critical to student well-being, stronger academic outcomes, and preparing young people for the workforce and future opportunities,” said Dr. Tony Walker, senior vice president of school programs and consulting at JED. “We’re proud to partner with ADE and help to ensure Arizona’s school-based mental health professionals are prepared and confident to identify warning signs, act quickly in a crisis, and connect students to the right support so they can thrive in school and in life.”
Nearly 1 in 4 Arizona high school students seriously consider attempting suicide each year, and 10% make an attempt. ADE partnered with JED to develop a customized training initiative tailored to Arizona’s policies, staffing structures, and cultural and educational contexts.
“As a school mental health professional and school safety trainer, I found this training to be well-designed and easy to navigate,” said Dr. Stacy Anderson, school psychologist at Paradise Valley Unified School District and social media co-chair of the Arizona Association of School Psychologists, where she served as president from 2022-2023. “The content clearly highlights the key objectives with current best practices. The activities and graphics are engaging, while the resources are useful to those who take this course.”
Arizona’s new training builds on JED’s nationally available online course, Suicide Prevention for School Nurses, originally co-developed with New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Office of School Health. To date, more than 1,600 school nurses completed the Suicide Prevention for School Nurses course training in New York City.
JED’s specialized training courses are designed to help schools and communities promote student emotional well-being and prevent suicide. Please visit JED’s website for more information on mental health education and training.
Media interviews are available upon request with representatives from JED, the Arizona Department of Education, and a school-based mental health professional.
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About Arizona Department of Education
The Arizona Department of Education is a service organization, committed to raising academic outcomes and empowering parents. It is led by Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, an elected constitutional officer for the State of Arizona.
About The Jed Foundation (JED)
JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. We’re partnering with high schools, colleges, and school districts to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. We’re equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We’re encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.
Connect with JED: Email | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Snapchat | YouTube
Media Contact
Justin Barbo
Director of Public Relations
The Jed Foundation
914-844-4611
Doug Nick
Communications Director
Arizona Department of Education
602-364-2347
If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone right now, text, call, or chat 988 for a free confidential conversation with a trained counselor 24/7.
You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741-741.
If this is a medical emergency or if there is immediate danger of harm, call 911 and explain that you need support for a mental health crisis.
