How the ZSA was founded

As Chief Executive of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust (an NHS mental health trust in the UK), Professor Joe Rafferty (CBE) was inspired by suicide prevention work happening in the USA. He implemented zero suicide principles at the Trust and wanted to look at how these could be extended to the wider society.  During this journey, Joe was contacted by Steve Mallen, a father who had sadly lost his son to suicide. Together, with Elaine Darbyshire and Dr Geraldine Strathdee OBE, the Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) was established. It officially launched on 16 November 2017 at the Houses of Parliament.

Photograph of Joe Rafferty

Professor Joe Rafferty CBE

Joe was awarded a PhD in molecular genetics at Queen’s University Belfast in 1987. He spent the following years working in research at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research before switching careers and joining the NHS in 1999. His NHS career spanned over 20 years in various positions across the NHS earning him recognition for his pioneering leadership.

He was named one of the ‘Top 50 NHS CEOs’ by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) for six consecutive years and appeared in the Health Service Journal 100 (HSJ100) list of the most influential people in healthcare in the UK.

In 2020, Joe was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year’s Honours List for his services to mental health suicide prevention. In 2023, he was named as an honorary fellow by Liverpool John Moores University.  

Joe retired from the NHS and the ZSA in November 2024 but remains a proud of the work he did as part of the ZSA and continues to be a supporter. 

Photograph of Steve Mallen

Steve Mallen

Steve’s son Edward was 18-year-old when he died by suicide in 2015. Not wanting others to go through similar experiences, Steve has undertaken several roles with the aim of improving mental health support as well as supporting suicide awareness and prevention efforts.

Steve is a member of the National Suicide Prevention Group within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). He also works closely with NHS England, the Department of Education and the Health Select Committee. In addition to this, he works closely with several mental health and suicide prevention charities and is Chairman of The MindEd Trust, a charity focused on mental health in children and young people.

He is a Governor at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. In 2021 he was recognised for services to mental health and suicide prevention with an Honorary Doctorate in Health Science from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. 

Steve is proud to have been part of the ZSA journey and is now using his determination to focus on campaigning for improvements to mental health support and advocating for bereavement support. He continues to do what he can to inspire change.

Photograph of Elaine Darbyshire

Elaine Darbyshire

After 22 years working for Guardian Media Group, Elaine joined NHS North West as Director of Strategic Communications in 2009. In 2011, this role expanded to cover NHS North of England.

Elaine started in the NHS as Director of Strategic Communications for NHS North West and this later expanded to cover NHS North of England.  

In 2013, Elaine joined Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, a mental health and community health trust. Elaine was responsible for a wide range of functions across the Trust including marketing and communications, corporate governance, service user engagement, estates and facilities as well as initiatives such as Life Rooms and Zero Suicide Alliance.

In addition to her role at Mersey Care, Elaine has been a trustee for Medcare charity and Non-Executive Directory for East Cheshire NHS Trust. She is also an active supporter for campaigns and charities connected to dementia care.

Elaine retired from her role at Mersey Care and the ZSA in October 2024 but remains a ZSA supporter.

Photograph of Geraldine Strathdee

Dr Geraldine Strathdee (CBE, OBE, Hon. FRCPsych)

Geraldine has held senior roles in mental health policy, regulation and clinical management, at national and London regional levels, and advises internationally on mental health service design and quality improvement, while working as a practising clinician.

With over 20 years’ experience, her particular commitment is to the translation of policy and best practice evidence into frontline routine clinical practice, empowering service users to reach their potential, and staff to maximise their time to care. She is passionate about the development of leadership competencies and using information to enable informed decision-making.

Geraldine has been recognised for her distinguished career as a psychiatrist and as a clinical leader. In 2012, she was named the Psychiatrist of the Year and in 2019, she received the Rehabilitation Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2017, Geraldine was named an honorary fellow by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Geraldine was instrumental in the development of the ZSAs suicide prevention data tools. She is no longer directly involved with the ZSA but remains a ZSA supporter whilst she continues her impressive and inspiring career.