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
Secretary, Board of Directors & Co-Chair, Workplace Task Committee, American Association of Suicidology
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 University
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
Frey, J., Spencer-Thomas, S. & Mosby, A. (2019). Preventing Suicide in the Workplace: New Guidelines, Recommendations Issued. Journal of Employee Assistance, 49(4). 22-34.
Spencer-Thomas, S. (2019). COVER STORY: We can’t fix mental health with duct tape. New frontiers in safety. Safety Decisions. Spring/Summer, 12-21. http://www.constructionworkingminds.org/assets/cover_story.pdf
Jahn, D. & Spencer-Thomas, S. (2018) A qualitative examination of continuing bonds through spiritual experiences in individuals bereaved by suicide. Religions. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/9/8/248/htm
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.
