The University of North Carolina has announced a $25 million commitment to establish a suicide prevention institute in the Department of Psychiatry of its School of Medicine.

The gift from William (’75) and Dana Starling was made in memory of the couple’s sons, Tyler and Gregory, both of whom died by suicide. The funding will not only establish the institute but support research to better understand the neurobiology of suicide and how it can be prevented. The UNC Suicide Prevention Institute will focus on three main components: causation and neurobiology, implementation of clinical prevention, and outreach, community engagement, and dissemination. 

“Our two children are gone, and it’s important to recognize their wonderful, short lives,” said William Starling. “I’m not sure how else to better do that than to help other families who may be struggling with their own children down the road. We want to recognize our children, and this is a special way to do that.” 

“What I am most grateful for is that I believe a gift of this impact is going to transform the way we are able to deliver leading-edge care that will change the trajectory and outcomes for people who are suffering with mental illness and having suicidal thoughts,” said Samantha Meltzer-Brody, the Assad Meymandi Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry. “The goal is that we will be able to develop both ways of predicting and clinical interventions–this is a partnership with scientists, psychiatrists and clinical teams using the resources of UNC Health to bring that together to identify who is at risk and clinically intervene to change outcomes.”

(Photo credit: Starling Family)