Mike Ballard worked to raise awareness of suicide prevention for 20 years. He joined the board of Suicide Prevention Action Network USA (SPAN USA) in 2004 and was elected chair in 2008. As chair, he led the process of merging with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in May 2009. After completing nine years on the AFSP board, he continued on the Public Policy Council until 2022.

In 2005, Mike shut down his public relations firm, Barksdale Ballard & Co., to focus on writing. He has written two novels, two plays, several short stories and poetry. For 37 years, Mike devoted his creative energy to public relations, government affairs, broadcasting, fundraising and marketing. Among his clients were PBS, CNBC, Public Affairs Television (Bill Moyers), The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Council on Aging, AARP, National Organization for Rare Disorders, Mental Health Policy Center, American Academy of Neurology, American Gastroenterological Association and American Society for Reproductive Medicine. He developed a wide variety of public relations and public education campaigns addressing critical social and healthcare issues such as improving end-of-life care, raising awareness of caregivers and their special needs, preparing Baby Boomers for their retirement years (their “Third Thirty”), promoting better management of concussions in sports, and advocating for mental health parity and increased funding for medical research. He served on a variety of local and national nonprofit organization boards, including the ALS Association.

Mike earned his A.B. in Journalism at Marquette University in 1968 and did graduate studies in management at the University of Pittsburgh. His career began on Capitol Hill in 1968 as a legislative assistant and press secretary to Rep. Clement J. Zablocki. He also worked with the staff of Sen. Jacob Javits to develop legislation that made it possible for medics returning from Vietnam to find jobs in traditional healthcare. In 1970, Mike became assistant director of public relations at the congressionally chartered Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Over the next several years, he helped put the fledgling public television and radio industry on the map of the nation’s consciousness. He helped launch the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in 1970 and National Public Radio (NPR) in 1971. In 1972, he became director of programming at Orlando’s public television station.

A native of Washington, D.C., Mike has two children and five grandchildren. His partner for over 35 years, Myrl Weinberg, is a former president of the National Health Council.