SPRC Executive Director Jenna Heise

Jenna Heise is the executive director of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). With three decades of experience in behavioral health and prevention, she has served as a counselor, trainer, policy analyst, and administrator. Her leadership is grounded in her suicide-centered lived experience, which informs her commitment to improving systems of care.

A nationally recognized expert in suicide prevention, Heise has partnered with local, state, Tribal, federal, and national organizations to strengthen programs, shape policy, and develop tools and frameworks that advance the field. She has played a key role in designing and implementing innovative, evidence-based approaches across health care systems; comprehensive school-based youth suicide prevention programs; and initiatives that enhance wellness and upstream mental health for first responders, veterans, construction industry workers, and corrections officers.

Heise has also been active in suicide prevention education for many years. In addition to presenting at conferences and symposia, she has co-authored peer-reviewed research articles focused on suicide prevention among veterans and developed toolkits, training and educational videos, and web content to support suicide prevention in a variety of contexts.

Heise holds an MA from Drexel University. She is a national board-certified counselor as well as a board-certified dance/movement therapist. She has been a SAMHSA peer reviewer and project director, and she previously collaborated with the Zero Suicide Institute. Heise has received numerous leadership and outstanding achievement awards over the course of her career in suicide prevention.

An artist at heart, Heise lives with her two sons and family dog in Austin, Texas.