SPS is honored by SPANUSA for community leadership. Jerry Weyrauch, founder of SPANUSA, awards a plaque to Sherry Bryant of Suicide Prevention Services, accepted for Sherry by Judy Ashby.

Friends of the Quilt - April 22, 1999
Standing L to R: Maureen McKane, Billie Hosey, Barbara Stidwell, Jennifer Slepicka, Bill Harding, Stephanie Weber, Sherry Bryant, John Urich.
Seated L to R: Karen Sepaniak, Christine Tredup, Joan Reilly

"I would recommend QPR training to anyone who is in a position, such as law enforcement, where we are in contact with those persons whose lives are in a state of turmoil and are showing signs of suicide ....The more training we can obtain the better prepared we will be to serve the public interest."
John Sizer--Chief, Elburn Police

"We hope to continue this education and consistently upgrade our staff's skills every year. We also hope to coordinate our training with crisis intervention teams and to build police and first responders advanced teams, at some point."
Richard Lovett, Chief, Police West Dundee

"...a unique, well-researched, evaluated campaign to stop suicide."
Aurora Fire Dept. Russell Glass, Chief

“We are excited about these efforts ...eventually we would like to consider screening opportunities and student involvement in suicide prevention and assessment of at-risk students using interns and advanced students." John Morrison, Aurora University, Chair, MSW program”

"I intend to continue our church's commitment with Suicide Prevention Services to help the community understand the need and possibility of suicide prevention and erase the stigma of mental illness."
Pastor Gary McCann, New England Congregational Church

"In the State of Illinois, the one agency which has been able and willing to work with us, to any major extent, in the wide area of 'suicide prevention activities', has been the Suicide Prevention Services, Inc. organization."
George Rogers, Deputy Regional Health Administrator, DHHS, Region V, Chicago

"The key word "promising" has never been more appropriately applied to a program than the one offered through Suicide Prevention Services. This is an impressive accomplishment for a new organization at the initial stages of its development."
Aurora Foundation, Sharon Stredde, Director

"I have known Stephanie Weber for nearly a decade and her reputation in the United States and internationally

"The Suicide Prevention Services group with whom we have worked and who arranged for our training are genuine, motivated professionals with a high degree of commitment and competence toward the cause of suicide prevention. We believe they will use the best minds in the country to forward their gatekeeper training efforts and other suicide prevention programs and interventions in their communities." Dr. Paul Quinnett, Creator of QPR

provides face validity that cannot be duplicated. She exemplifies a mental health provider who delivers a standard of care that all citizens deserve and few will receive ....Be assured that lives will be saved and the quality of life improved if investors will place their valuable resources in the hands of this dedicated and skilled group of volunteers and providers."
Frank Campbell, Past President, American Association of Suicidology

"Communities in Schools is proud to collaborate with Suicide Prevention Services to prevent and intervene in suicide attempts and completion. High school students will get specific training to be teen crisis line helpers as well as credit and community service opportunity."
Pat Davenport, Director, Communities in Schools

"I believe very strongly in the goals of Suicide Prevention and feel that there is an undeniable community need for expansion of prevention, intervention and postvention services in the area of suicide. Please consider the strong potential positive impact which the SPS programming could have on this area."
Dr. David Leader, Psychiatrist, Dreyer Medical Clinic

"We were most pleased with the training session that was provided to all of our staff at an in-service by the Suicide Prevention Staff.. The feedback from this training was so favorable that we will schedule regular education training sessions with Suicide Prevention Services."
Linda Healy, Director, Mutual Ground (for domestic violence)

"Suicide Prevention Services bring to the SPAN effort sensitivity, enthusiasm, energy, creativity, understanding, professionalism and patience."
Jerry Weyrauch, Director of the Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network (national organization)

"I have known Stephanie Weber and Sherry Bryant for many years. Their participation in both national and local level suicide prevention organizations has marked both of them as leaders in this field. The mission of this group is important and the design has been mapped in a thoughtful and clinically sound manner." David C. Clark, Ph.D., Director, Center for Suicide Research and Prevention, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center

"This effort is likely to be effective because of the clarity of its message and unity of its purpose will be powerfully effective in gaining public awareness and cooperation."
Dr. Janet Yanos, Social Work Dept., Aurora University

"Stephanie's knowledge, sincerity, honesty, personal experience and sense of caring are unmatched. Because we know first hand how desperately those with depression need help in dealing with their suicidal thoughts and impulses we are very happy to support the Suicide Prevention Services of Fox Valley and know it will be a tremendous service to the community."
Blanche Jones, Executive Director Fox Valley Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association