As part of our monthly series, we’ll introduce team members from the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health (TIEMH). You’ll learn more about their interests, the projects they work on at TIEMH, and more.
This month, the spotlight is on Laura Hernandez Gold, LCSW-S (she/ella). Laura joined TIEMH in 2024 through a partnership with ESC Region 16’s Texas Center for Student Supports, where she helps lead the Stronger Connections Grant program. With more than 30 years of experience in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, Laura develops tailored training and resources for educators, administrators, and families to strengthen school-based prevention efforts across Texas.
Before joining TIEMH, Laura worked at Texas Health and Human Services as the Project AWARE and Suicide Prevention Specialist, providing statewide training and consultation to community grantees in Houston, Laredo, and San Antonio. She’s a certified trainer in multiple nationally recognized programs—including Mental Health First Aid, ASK About Suicide to Save a Life, and Hope Squad—and currently serves as Board President for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Central Texas Chapter.
Let’s dive into Laura’s interview:
What projects do you work on?
I am part of the collaborative initiative with Education Service Center (ESC) Region 16’s Texas Center for Student Supports (TCSS), which oversees the Stronger Connections Grant (SCG) program across all 20 ESCs in Texas. I currently assist in the projects TIEMH is providing the 99+ SCG school districts and charter schools—school climate surveys, a student support framework diagnostic tool, and suicide prevention curriculum development.
What’s your official job title?
I’m the School Suicide Prevention Lead and have developed individualized youth suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention training resources for administrators, educators, and mental health professionals and am working on resources for families.
What do you enjoy about working at TIEMH?
The community which makes working fun, inclusive, and supportive. I know I can reach out to anyone with an issue or challenge, and someone will quickly help out and/or point me in the direction of someone who can. It is truly an amazing group of people that work here.
What are you currently reading, watching, or listening to?
I really like to read and watch all things horror so I’m currently reading The Spite House by Johnny Compton and it is good! I can’t read it if I’m by myself at home! I also love books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Agustina Bazterrica! As for what I’m watching, I just finished Wayward and cannot wait for Welcome to Derry to start! I also enjoy Gen V and The Boys which are not for everyone. I love listening to the podcast, Ruined! It’s a good one if you don’t like watching scary movies but you want to know about them. They’re hilarious!
What’s your favorite Halloween candy?
Reese’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups!! It doesn’t have to be Halloween to enjoy them!
Thanks for sharing, Laura!
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