Stephanie Downey is a Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Health based out of Bemidji, MN. She enjoys supporting communities to address and engage in suicide prevention efforts. Stephanie’s journey to her work in the field of suicide prevention grew from a passion to serve youth and families. Stephanie’s background and knowledge of youth mental health and substance abuse issues is rooted in a 20-year career at a residential treatment facility delivering assessment, mental health, and dual diagnosis services. Stephanie has a 13-year history of coordinating suicide prevention education, awareness, and advocacy to communities at a local level with extensive work within school systems. Since 2017 Stephanie has been working with the Minnesota Department of Health Suicide Prevention Unit. Stephanie is a certified trainer for Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR), Suicide Alertness for Everyone (safeTALK), Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), and Connect Postvention.
