Experts Address Suicide Prevention in U.S. Jails
View the photo gallery below.
On April 1, 2025, the Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy (CMAP) at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health hosted a pivotal event titled “Suicide Prevention in U.S. Jails: A Public Mental Health and Corrections Collaboration” at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center, located at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. This gathering was part of the CMAP Nexus Series, which aims to unite experts to address pressing issues at the intersection of mental health and public policy.
The event convened leading voices from mental health, corrections, and policy sectors to examine the alarming rates of suicide in U.S. jails. Panelists included Joseph Penn, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB); Madalyn Wasilczuk, Assistant Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law; and Lauren Weinstock, clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University. In a discussion facilitated by Ryan Price of AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), topics focused on the current state of suicide prevention protocols, highlighting both challenges and innovative solutions. Particular attention was given to efforts within Maryland and broader national initiatives, focusing on the design and implementation of effective suicide prevention strategies within correctional settings.
Bloomberg School faculty leads Olivia Sugarman, PhD, MPH, and Paul Nestadt, MD also gave remarks emphasizing the need for collaborative approaches between public mental health systems and correctional institutions. The event underscored the importance of integrating mental health considerations into the fabric of correctional policy and practice.
Following the panel, attendees engaged in a networking reception, fostering connections among policymakers, practitioners, and advocates dedicated to reforming mental health care within the justice system. The event is a step toward addressing the critical issue of suicide in jails and advancing collaborative solutions to enhance mental health support for incarcerated individuals.
The event was sponsored in part by the Johns Hopkins Nexus Award.
Photo Gallery
From left to right: Matthew Eisenberg, Olivia Sugarman, Ryan Price, Madalyn Wasilczuk, Lauren Weinstock, Joseph Penn, Paul Nestadt.
Paul Nestadt, an associate professor for the Mental Health department, gives opening remarks.
Olivia Sugarman, an assistant scientist for the Health Policy and Management department, gives opening remarks.
From left to right: Ryan Price, Lauren Weinstock, Madalyn Wasilczuk, Joseph Penn.
Madalyn Wasilczuk, an assistant professor of law at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, answers question.
