About Us

The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS) was started in 2006 by two fathers who had lost teenaged children to suicide. There's an intensity and passion that infuses a cause when it is borne out of personal tragedy, and SPTS is no exception. Scott Fritz and Don Quigley were determined to do whatever they could to protect other families from the devastation of suicide, and they had no trouble recruiting their golf buddies, Todd Cohen, Jerry Grasso, Tom Lanning, and Bob Agel, to join them. Realizing they needed professional expertise to inform their mission, they invited clinical social worker Maureen Underwood, a nationally recognized expert in youth suicide, to become part of their team. The New Jersey Chapter of the American Association of Suicide Prevention was represented by President Peggy Farrell. Educator Jeannine Grasso rounded out the initial board.

 

Our Values

The core values that define SPTS and its founding board are:

• Passionate commitment to the value of life
• Belief in the effectiveness of evidence-based suicide prevention strategies
• Dedication to removing public stigma about suicide
• Conviction that accurate information and education about suicide can save lives

Many organizations and groups around the country are dedicated to youth suicide prevention. One of the things that makes SPTS unique, however, is its combination of business savvy and knowledge of evidence-based mental health practices. This has enabled SPTS to work quickly, efficiently, and decisively to develop and implement youth suicide prevention programs at both the state and national level. Our long-term vision is to become an international resource for youth suicide awareness and prevention programs that reflect our core values.