In this session, Susan Daniel will discuss her role as one of only two suicide investigators in Ohio, serving with the Stark County Coroner’s Office.

Her work combines immediate support for families on the worst day of their lives with in-depth Retrospective Fatality Analysis interviews designed to understand the many factors that contribute to suicide. Susan will highlight how these interviews not only help families find meaning in their grief but also provide essential insights to improve prevention and reduce the risk of contagion.

She will share how postvention and prevention are inseparable, how local fatality review committees use her findings to address system gaps, and why Ohio is emerging as a national leader in this innovative approach. Her talk underscores the vital truth that behind every suicide is a family, a community, and opportunities to build stronger systems of care.