Professional Credentials & Affiliations

• Clinical Psychologist
• Co-Founder & Chair, United Suicide Survivors International
• Master Trainer of Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper
• Co-Chair, Workplace Special Interest Group, International Association of Suicide Prevention
• Lead, Workplace Task Force, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
• Co-Chair, Consumer-Survivor Committee, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Past-President, Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado
• Inductee, Leadership Denver 2014
• Past Director, Survivor of Suicide Loss Division, American Association of Suicidology    

Special Events, Awards & Honors

• 2016 Invited Speaker, White House Briefing on Men’s Health

• 2016 Career Achievement Alumni Award from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology

• 2015 Farbarow Award, International Association for Suicide Prevention

• 2014 Invited Guest, White House Briefing on Mental Health

• 2014 Invited Guest, World Health Organization’s World Suicide Report Launch, Geneva

• 2014 Survivor of the Year, American Association of Suicidology

• 2014 Invisible Disabilities Association Impact Honors Award

• 2012 Alumni Master Scholar, University of Denver

• 2011 Outstanding Provider for 2011 in the State of Colorado (Colorado Employee Assistance Professionals Association)

• 2008 Heroes in the Fight Nominee (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

• 2006 Recognition of Service, BACCHUS Network

• 2002 Advisor/Moderator of the Year, Regis Univers

Past Professional Experience

• CEO, Carson J Spencer Foundation
• Executive Secretary, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
• Professional Speaker, CAMPUSPEAK
• Director of Leadership Development, Regis University
• Police Psychologist, Nicoletti-Flater Associates
• Psychology Intern, Boston VA Medical Center

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Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas is a notable expert on the employee engagement and well-being platform, LifeSpeak. She has helped millions of employees understand and cope with depression and suicide through her insightful resources made available through the LifeSpeak site.”

Major Publications

Jahn, D. & Spencer-Thomas, S. (under review) A qualitative examination of continuing bonds through spiritual experiences in individuals bereaved by suicide. Religions.

Bollinger, C., Flintoft, R., Nicoletti, J., Spencer-Thomas, S. & Dvoskina, M. (Eds.) (2018).  Violence Goes to College: The Authoritative Guide to Prevention and Intervention. (3rd Edition)  Charles C Thomas, Publisher: Springfield, IL.

Stanley, I. H., Hom, M. A., Chu, C., Dougherty, S. P., Gallyer, A. J., Spencer-Thomas, S., Shelef, L., Fruchter, E., Comtois, K. A., Gutierrez, P. M., Sachs-Ericsson, N. J., & Joiner, T. E. (2018). Perceptions of belongingness and social support attenuate PTSD symptom severity among firefighters: A multi-study investigation. Psychological Services. DOI: 10.1037/ser0000240.

Spencer-Thomas, S. (2018). Flaming chalice of hope: A case study of suicide prevention in a faith community. Religions, 9(4), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9040123

Hom, M. A., Stanley, I. H., Spencer-Thomas, S., & Joiner, T.E. (In press). Mental health service use and help-seeking among women firefighters with a career history of suicidality. Psychological Services.

Hom, M. A., Stanley, I. H., Spencer-Thomas, S., & Joiner, T. E. Women firefighters and workplace harassment: Associated suicidality and mental health sequelae. (In press). Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.

Spencer-Thomas, S. & Stohlmann-Rainey, J. (2017). Workplaces and the aftermath of suicide. In Andriessen, K., Krysinska, K. & Grad, O. (Eds). Postvention in Action. Hogrefe: Boston, MA.

Krysinska, K., Jahn, D., Spencer-Thomas, S. & Andriessen, K. (2017). The roles of religion and spirituality in suicide bereavement and postvention. In Andriessen, K., Krysinska, K. & Grad, O. (Eds). Postvention in Action. Hogrefe: Boston, MA.

Stanley, I. H., Hom, M. A., Spencer-Thomas, S., & Joiner, T. E. (2017). Examining anxiety sensitivity as a mediator of the association between PTSD symptoms and suicide risk among women firefighters. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 50, 94-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.06.003 19. 

Stanley, I. H., Hom, M. A., Spencer-Thomas, S., & Joiner, T. E. (2017). Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among women firefighters: An examination of associated features and comparison of pre-career and career prevalence rates. Journal of Affective Disorders, 221, 107-114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.06.016

Jahn, D. & Spencer-Thomas, S. (2014). Continuing bonds through after-death spiritual experiences in individuals bereaved by suicide. Journal of Spirituality and Mental Health 16(4), 2\311-324.

Milner A., Page K.M., Spencer-Thomas S., Lamotagne A.D. (2014). Workplace suicide prevention: a systematic review of published and unpublished activities. Health Promotion International. doi:10.1093/heapro/dau085

Paul, R. & Spencer-Thomas, S. (2012). Changing workplace culture to end the suicide standstill. National Council Magazine. (2), 126-127.

Iliceto P, Pompili M, Spencer-Thomas S, Ferracuti S, Erbuto D, Lester D, Candilera G, & Girardi P. (2012). Occupational stress and psychopathology in health professionals: An explorative study with the Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model approach. Stress, (2), 143-152.

Spencer-Thomas, S. & Jahn, D. (2012). Tracking a movement: U.S. milestones in suicide prevention. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 42(1), 78-85.

Spencer-Thomas, S. (2012). Developing a workplace suicide prevention program. Journal of Employee Assistance, 42(1), 12-15.

Spencer-Thomas, S. (2011, July). High performers and suicide prevention in the workplace. Psychiatric Annals, 41(7), 343-344..

Spencer-Thomas, S. (2009, May 15). To 10 strategies for bolstering students’ mental resilience. The Chronicle of Higher Education, LV (36), A26.

Spencer-Thomas, S. & Ginsberg, R. (2009). Working Minds: Suicide Prevention Toolkit. Westminster, CO: Carson J Spencer Foundation, Inc.

Doty, T. & Spencer-Thomas, S. (2009). The Role of Faith Communities in Suicide Prevention: A Guidebook for Faith Leaders.  Westminster, CO: Carson J Spencer Foundation, Inc.

Nicoletti, J. & Spencer-Thomas, S. (2001). Contamination of cop: Secondary traumatic stress of officers responding to civilian suicides. In D. Sheehan and J. Warren (Eds.) Suicide and Law Enforcement.  Washington, D.C.: Behavioral Science Unit FBI Academy, U.S. Department of Justice.