Dese'Rae L. Stage

Photographer, Writer & Suicidologist; Creator of "Live Through This"; Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Mental Health Advocate

Philadelphia, PA, USA
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info
Art & Design, Education, Empowerment, Health & Wellness, Mental Health, Motivational, Non-Profit, Personal Growth, Photography, Social Activism
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Dese'Rae L. Stage Biography

Dese'Rae L. Stage is an American photographer, writer, suicidologist, licensed clinical social worker, and suicide awareness activist whose work integrates art and public health. Stage is a self-taught photographer with a background in music journalism and holds academic credentials in psychology and suicidology. She is trained in crisis intervention, including ASIST and QPR, and is a certified QPR trainer. Drawing on her own lived experience as a suicide attempt survivor and having lost friends to suicide, Stage has focused her career on reducing stigma and amplifying the voices of those who have survived suicidal crises.

Stage created "Live Through This," a multimedia series featuring portraits and true stories of nearly 200 suicide attempt survivors across the United States. The project, featured in the New York Times, Associated Press, and NPR, challenges assumptions about individuals who have experienced suicidal thoughts and actions through photography and storytelling. "Live Through This" is used as a resource by clinicians and as a teaching tool at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Stage has also partnered with research teams to highlight attempt survivor experiences in suicide research. The project includes survivors from a broad age range, diverse socioeconomic, professional, and faith backgrounds, and communities including Black, brown, Latinx, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Stage's work has been recognized with honors such as the American Association of Suicidology Transforming Lived Experience Award, the SXSW Community Service Award, Investigation Discovery's Inspire a Difference Everyday Hero Award, and the SAMHSA Voice Award. She appears as the main subject in Lisa Klein's documentary "The S Word" and has also appeared in "Wake Up: Stories from the Frontlines of Suicide Prevention." Her written work has been published in Cosmopolitan, CNN, and Romper.

Stage speaks about her work and experiences at universities and suicide prevention events nationwide. Notable engagements include sharing a bill with Kay Redfield Jamison at the NIMH Director's Innovation Speaker Series, participating in a roundtable event on Capitol Hill hosted by Congresswoman Susan Wild, and delivering a Thought Leader Session at the American Association of Suicidology's annual conference. The Capitol Hill roundtable, titled "The Rippling Impact of Suicide," featured former NFL player Fred Stokes and representatives from the suicidology and psychiatry fields, with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi providing opening remarks. Stage also produces and co-hosts the "Suicide 'n' Stuff" vidcast with Jess Stohlmann-Rainey and hosts the "Grief TV" vidcast. As a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, she works with teens and adults addressing concerns related to suicidal ideation and self-injury, grief and traumatic loss, depression, anxiety, and gender and sexual identity, among other areas, contributing to the field of suicide prevention and mental health advocacy.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/30/2026.

Dese'Rae L. Stage Videos

Prevent Suicide Wisconsin 2020 Keynote - Dese'Rae L. Stage

Prevent Suicide Wisconsin 2020 Keynote - Dese'Rae L. Stage

Ask the Question Keynote Speaker Dese'Rae L. Stage

Ask the Question Keynote Speaker Dese'Rae L. Stage

This Photographer Shatters Taboo Of Suicide Survivors (HBO)

This Photographer Shatters Taboo Of Suicide Survivors (HBO)

Dese’Rae Stage has a single request when photographing survivors of suicide attempts: “The only thing I ask is that they look directly into my...

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  • What topics does Dese'Rae L. Stage speak about?

    Dese'Rae L. Stage is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Education, Empowerment, Health & Wellness, Mental Health, Motivational, Non-Profit, Personal Growth, Photography, Social Activism

  • Where does Dese'Rae L. Stage travel from?

    Dese'Rae L. Stage generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

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Dese'Rae L. Stage is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Dese'Rae L. Stage for your event is available upon request. Dese'Rae L. Stage generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Mark Henick, Tom Voss, Kevin Hines, Jamie Tworkowski and Erika Gilchrist. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dese'Rae L. Stage for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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