Farrah Greene-Palmer hired as Suicide Prevention Grant project manager

Farrah Greene-Palmer has been hired as Suicide Prevention Grant project manager at Western Washington University.

Greene-Palmer, hired after a nationwide search, began her duties at Western Feb. 11. 

“Farrah brings extensive experience in, and passion for, suicide prevention work,” said Michael Sledge, assistant dean of students at Western and project director. “She brings with her a researcher’s rigor, a clinician’s care, and over 10 years of experience in suicide prevention work and academia. We’re excited to have her join the Western community.”

Greene-Palmer received her master’s and doctorate degrees in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where her doctoral thesis centered on interrelations among suicidal ideation, negative affect and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Since then, she has taught at the college level, worked with grants, and conducted research on suicide. She spent two years in a post-doctoral fellowship at the Laboratory for the Treatment of Suicide-Related Ideation and Behavior at the Uniformed Health Services University.

“Western has a caring culture and a commitment to wellness. I’m excited to take the many ideas at Western and help focus them toward preventing suicides and saving lives. It is up to us as a community to offer support, hope, and options for the future,” Greene-Palmer said.

Last fall, Western was awarded a three-year, $294,948 grant for the prevention of campus suicides from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

Project activities will directly address cultural issues that create barriers to prevention, initiate new activities, evaluate and assess efforts to make adjustments as needed to fit the needs of Western students and their families, and lay the groundwork for sustainability of suicide prevention activities in the future. Activities will focus on: educational seminars, outreach, and messaging (print and online) to reach students and their families; training for students and campus personnel; campus networks, community partnerships and promotion of hotlines; and reviewing and utilizing best practices.