Media & Appearances
Speaking engagements

Featured article: "Break the Deadly Silence About Depression"

St. Louis Post Dispatch, June 1, 2006 [.pdf]

Featured interiew: Diane Rehm Show

Featured article: Ladies Home Journal, December 2005 [.pdf]

  • October 3, 2007

    American Psychiatric Nurses Association

    Keynote address, Kissimmee, Florida.

  • June 9, 2007

    NAMI New Mexico Annual Meeting

    Albuquerque, New Mexico, Gail addressed the leadership of NAMI New Mexico on mental health advocacy and action.

  • October 28, 2006

    Active Minds on Campus 2006 Annual Conference

    Gail conducted a workshop for students interested in learning about how to securing funding and author grants for their Active Minds chapters on individual campuses. This year's Active Minds conference was held at American University in Washington, DC.

  • October 14, 2006

    Connecticut NAMI annual meeting

    Gail was the keynote speaker at the state's annual meeting.

  • October 5, 2006

    "The Long Slog Back"

    In celebration of Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Center's 25th anniversary, Gail was invited to speak about her battle with clinical depression and the challenges to recovery.

  • September 27, 2006

    South Carolina Violent Death Reporting System

    Gail was invited with the Mental Health Association of South Carolina to address the state annual meeting releasing annual statistics related to youth suicide. The meeting was attended by 250 persons from law enforcement, coroners departments, health services delivery specialists, and educators from all over the state.

  • August 10, 2006

    Book-signing at the American Psychological Association annual meeting

    Gail will be signing her book, Will's Choice, at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, in New Orleans, at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, August 10. She will be part of a panel presentation of APA members who have written about depression or mental health topics, on Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. Pleaes check the meeting schedule for locations.

  • May 1, 2006

    Breaking the Silence -- Opening Eyes and Minds about Mental Health

    Monday, May 1, 6:45, Temple Beth Hillel- Beth El, Philadelphia hosts a program devoted to exploring mental health issues affecting young people. The event is free and open to the public. Gail Griffith will speak about teen suicide, along with Alison Malmon, founder of Active Minds, Ross Szabo, National Mental Health Awarenss Campaign and Dr. Wade Berrettini, University of Pennsylvania. View the flyer [.pdf]

  • April 7, 2006

    Southern Kentucky Book Fest

    Kentucky's largest literary festival is scheduled for April 7 & 8 at the Sloan Convention Cener in Bowling Green. The Book Fest draws 10,000 readers. Gail will be appearing and signing books at the Book Fest. At 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, she will speak, along with writer Elinor Fuchs, on a panel entitled, "Learning, Coping, Healing -- When Disease Strikes the Family."

  • April 2, 2006

    Radio Program "Viewpoints" airs: "Out of the Darkness: Dealing with Suicide

    The radio broadcast, which features an interview with Gail, aired on 333 radio statons across the country. To hear the complete interview, log on to www.mediatracks.com/vp0614. That's "Viewpoints," program # 0614.

  • February 1, 2006

    Journal of Therapeutic Schools and Programs

    The Journal, Vol. 1, Number 1, ran an extensive review of Will's Choice, written by Dr. John McKinnon, one of the founders of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, and head of Montana Academy.

  • October 29, 2005

    NAMI - New York State Annual Convention

    Gail will be the keynote speaker from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the NAMI New York State annual convention entitled, "Navigating in Rough Seas: Finding the Way to Recovery from Mental Illness," at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany New York.

  • October 21, 2005

    "Meet the Author"

    American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry annual meeting in Toronto, Canada. Gail will sign books and discuss Will's Choice, Friday, October 21 from noon to 1:00 p.m. and again at 5:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Centre Toronto in the Exhibits Hall

  • October 19, 2005

    NAMI Montgomery County Sixth Annual Heroes Award Banquet

    Gail Griffith, Keynote Speaker. Gail will sell and sign books following the presentation. Doubletree Hotel, 6:30 p.m. 1750 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852. For information call 301 949 5852 or email: namioffice@namimc.org

  • October 14, 2005

    Duke University

    As anyone familiar with major depression knows, it's difficult, if not impossible, to imagine that life is worth living when you're in the midst of a bout of depression. But science shows that the dynamics of brain function during episodes of depression trigger the sense of hopelessness and desolation, squelching the will to live. By talking about depression and exposing it for the brain illness it is, we can help ourselves and others get beyond the immediacy of the desperation brought on by the illness and move towards recovery. Active Minds Mental Health on Campus Conference, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, October 14 - 15.

  • October 5, 2005

    Media Teleconference for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

    Participated in the AFSP media conference call for journalists interested in writing about depression and suicide on college campuses. Link to www.afsp.org for more information on back to campus suicide prevention.

  • July 17, 2005

    American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

    Invited speaker at closing ceremonies of "Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk," in Chicago hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

  • June 28, 2005

    Los Angeles

    Local L.A. affiliate of CBS interview; interview aired twice on June 28 (10:00 p.m., KCAL; 11:00 p.m. KCBS); interview attracted enough attention to be re-aired July 3 and is posted on the interactive website for public viewing at CBS2news.com (newslinks, June, "Will's Choice").

  • June 19, 2005

    NAMI

    Invited speaker at NAMI convention in Austin, Texas.

  • May 20, 2005

    Psychiatric News

    Interview and profiled in Psychiatric News on F.D.A. decision to issue black box warnings for antidepressants.

  • May 17, 2005

    "The Choice of Life"

    Washington Post publishes an adaptation from Will's Choice entitled, "The Choice of Life."

  • May 13, 2005

    Albuquerque Journal

    Interviewed in the Albuquerque Journal, "Will's Choice Tackles a Touchy Subject."

  • May 12, 2005

    "The Journey Home Program"

    "The Journey Home Program," KSFR, hour-long drive-time interview about teen depression and Will's Choice on Santa Fe, New Mexico Public Radio.

  • May 9, 2005

    The Mimi Geerges Show

    The Mimi Geerges Show, interviewed about teen depression for XM satellite radio program. Interview was selected "interview of the month, on Geerge's website, http://www.mgshow.com.

  • May 6, 2005

    Washingtonian Magazine

    Washingtonian Magazine hosts author on on-line chat; Will's Choice is selected as Washingtonian Magazine's on-line book of the month. Check out the online chat at "Author Series," www.washingtonian.com

  • May 5, 2005

    Washingtonian Magazine

    Washingtonian Magazine hosts author's book signing engagement, at Barnes & Noble Bookstore.

  • May 3, 2005

    WUSA

    WUSA, interview by Andrea Roane for local Washington, DC morning show about Will's Choice and teen depression.

  • May 3, 2005

    WAMU

    WAMU, interview by Diane Rehm, NPR syndicated talk host about Will's Choice and teen depression. Hear the interview.

  • April 20, 2005

    Washington D.C. Catholic high schools

    Addressed Washington D.C. Catholic high school parents' associations regarding teen suicide.

  • February 2, 2005

    Alliance for Teen Safety

    An hour-long interview by Boston Globe columnist Eileen McNamara in public forum for parent and community associations in the Boston suburbs about teen suicide. Interview was broadcast on local cable channels in the region.

  • February 1, 2005

    APA/AACAP

    Participated in APA/AACAP press conference announcing the Parents' Medguide. Quoted in Washington Post, AP and other news outlets.

  • January 31, 2005

    Interviewed on CNN

    Interviewed on CNN's Paula Zahn show regarding risks and benefits of antidepressant medication; CNN segment was produced in the wake of the Christopher Pittman trial.

  • March 22, 2004

    Interviewed on WUSA

    Interviewed on WUSA - Channel 9, evening Derrick McGinty program regarding FDA's advisory on risk of antidepressants for pediatric patients.

  • February 1, 2004

    February - September 2004

    FDA patient representative to the FDA advisory committee examining risks and benefits of antidepressant medication for pediatric patients. Quoted in numerous print and broadcast media following FDA hearings.

  • November 9, 2003

    "Fear of No Right Answer"

    Washington Post Outlook Section publishes op/ed, "Fear of No Right Answer," addressing FDA's failure to provide clear guidance regarding antidepressant risks for pediatric populations.

Recent news

  • 2007 Special Needs Bestseller by LibraryJournal.com

    Will's Choice listed as a 2007 Special Needs Bestseller by LibraryJournal.com

  • Newsweek Magazine, July 16, 2007, "Trouble in a 'Black Box,"

    Gail is quoted in this Newsweek article which suggests that the black box warning on antidepressants for teens and young adults may have had an adverse effect on prescribing practices. Griffith says, "If" I had known how much the label would rattle parents, I wouldn't have voted for it [the black box warning]." In December 2006, the FDA's psychopharmacological committee voted 6 to 2 to extend the black box labelling to young persons up to twenty-four years of age. Griffith voted against extending the label to include this larger constituency, siting the extraordinary vulnerability of this population and the disastrous consequences of failing to treat depression.

  • FDA names Gail griffith consumer representative to the Psychopharmacologica Drug Advisory Committee

    In August 2007, Gail was named consumer representative to the Food and Drug Administration's Psychopharmalogical Drug Advisory Committee for a four year term.

  • Will's Choice reviewed on American Association of Suicidology website, Summer 2007

    Will's Choice: A suicidal teen, a desperate mother, and a chronicle of recovery by Gail Griffith (2006) Reviewed by Judy R. Kletter. Go to: http://www.suicidology.org/ and click on "bookstore" AAS reviewed books.

  • Keynote spaker at 2007 American Psychiatric Nurses Association Annual Meeting

    On October 3, Gail will deliver the keyntoe address to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, meeting in Kissimmee, Florida. She will recount how her family came to terms with the suicide attempt of her teenage son.

  • Radio interviews 2006

    Over the course of the summer, Gail was interviewed about teen depression and Will's Choice for the following live radio programs: What's Going On? June 9th WLYU- Vidalia, Georgia Jeff Brucculeri Show, June 21st KAKC-AM - Tulsa, Oklahoma Kris McGregor, June 22nd Spirit 88.9 FM KVSS - Omaha, Nebraska Greg Berg Show, June 23rd WGTD-FM - Madison, Wisconsin Ron Thulin Show, June 27th KAHL San Antonio KGAB, Wyoming, Friday, July 7th North Dakota Public Radio on "Access to Healthcare Issues" interviewed September 23, by Sarah Morrau.

  • Suicide Prevention Action Network

  • 2006 Tipper Gore Remember the Children Award

    Gail was honored with the "Tipper Gore: Remember the Children Award," given by the National Mental Health Association at their annual meeting in June. For pictures of the ceremony, or details about NMHA's annual meeting, please visit their website, www.nmha.org.