Leigh A.

Reposa, MSW, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and

has been with the Rhode Island Youth Suicide Prevention Program since
Fall of 2009. As part of her work, Leigh and members of the RI Youth
Suicide Prevention Project have trained 3000+ adults and youth in the
six core cities in Rhode Island. Leigh serves as the Chairperson for the
state RI Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Committee and is an active
member of the RI Medical Examiners Office Child Death Review Team.
Leigh came to work at RI Student Assistance Services (RISAS) in 2009
to manage the Youth Suicide Prevention Project, a brand new
collaboration between RISAS, the RI Department of Health and RI core
city high schools. The project, under her management, later expanded
to high schools outside the core cities.
In her role, Leigh oversees and implements evidence-based suicide
prevention education programs in selected public schools and
community-based organizations that serve adolescents and their
families. The project provides a safety net for at risk youth by
instituting assessment, identification, and referral protocols, and
training adult and youth gatekeepers.
The project focuses on adolescents and young adults living in Rhode
Islands core cities. These cities are characterized by high rates of
children living in poverty (15% or more), large minority populations,
and other risk factors.
Since 2009, Leigh has trained 4,761 adults who work with youth in the
national gatekeeper model, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), which is
based on the concept that anyone can save a life. Leigh and her cotrainer have trained over 300 youth in Signs of Suicide (S.O.S.), which
trains teens in the ACT Technique-Acknowledge, Care, Tell.
Leighs work has helped to decrease the stigma associated with suicide
and seeking mental health services among our most vulnerable
populations and increased awareness across multiple systems. She is
a true collaborator who should be credited with starting up and
developing this innovative program.