The Scarlet Letter S: Reclaiming Humanity and Hope for Teen Suicide

Teen suicide is an urgent and growing public health concern, yet many adults struggle to understand it or know how to respond when a young person may be at risk. In this talk, Dr. Pamela Morris-Perez presents the latest scientific insights into adolescent suicide, including leading theories, risk factors, and promising prevention strategies for schools and communities. Drawing powerful analogies between suicide and other health conditions, she offers practical guidance for parents, educators, practitioners, and researchers seeking to better support the young people in their lives. Through an evidence-based and compassionate lens, Dr. Morris-Perez brings humanity, clarity, and hope to a topic often clouded by shame and stigma.

Pamela Morris-Perez, Ph.D., is a Professor of Applied Psychology at NYU Steinhardt and former Vice Dean/Interim Dean of the school. A developmental psychologist trained at Cornell University, she has spent nearly 30 years examining how environments shape child and adolescent development and how systems can be improved to better support youth. She has secured more than $75 million in research funding and authored over 100 scholarly publications spanning developmental psychology, suicidology, education, and public policy.

Her leadership includes service as a National Academy of Education member, William T. Grant Scholar, lead theory editor of the Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, and two-term member of the National Academy of Science's Board on Children, Youth, and Families. Following the tragic loss of her daughter Frankie, Dr. Morris-Perez founded ARCADIA for Suicide Prevention, advancing population-level, developmentally informed approaches to adolescent suicide. Her work has been featured in the New York Times and on Kate Bowler's Everything Happens podcast. She holds a B.A. from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University.

The Sulzberger Distinguished Lecture Series is made possible through an endowment from the Arthur Sulzberger Family. Please join us for a reception following the talk.