DeCou Family Endowment Established to Support Suicide Prevention

“We are delighted to be able to give back,” said Chris. “Scholarship funds were a lifeline for me during my graduate studies. Anything Becky and I can do to support folks who are devoting their lives and careers to the profession of psychology, and especially in this area of study, is a worthwhile investment in the future of mental health.”

Chris is a licensed clinical psychologist and graduate of the ISU Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program. Becky is a licensed speech language pathologist. 

“We are so grateful and proud of our alumni like Chris and Becky, who give back to ISU and to our community in such meaningful ways. Our psychology program and faculty play a vital role equipping the next generation of mental health practitioners, and with the staggering rates of suicide in Idaho, this scholarship will be a powerful tool to help combat the public health crisis,” said Dr. Kandi Turley-Ames, College of Arts and Letters dean. “This generous partnership with the DeCou family will be another step toward preventing suicide, and preparing our students to meaningful contributions to their communities. We will forever be grateful to Chris and Becky for making this tangible difference!”

Currently, Chris is the head of Global Behavioral Health at Amazon, where he works to build the future of mental health and ensure that Amazon employees and their families have access to mental health services and resources. “At Amazon,” Chris explains, “we’re always asking ourselves, how do we reinvent mental health? How can we think big, think differently? How can we do something transformative for our employees and the world?”

While at ISU, Chris’s contributions were recognized by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and the Society for Clinical Psychology. Chris and Becky have a strong connection to Idaho State and the Pocatello community, and they are thrilled to have the opportunity to give back to the community and support current Bengals who are working to make an impact in the field of mental health.

“We loved being a part of the Pocatello and ISU community for four years. Our first child was born in Pocatello, we attended almost every summer concert on the quad, and those and many other moments of community connection and inspiration made a big difference,” said Chris. “ISU’s clinical psychology department is a hidden gem. The care and concern of ISU faculty, and their commitment to me as both a scholar and as a person changed my life for the better, and is something I will always be grateful for.”

The DeCou family’s gift will be matched during the upcoming Bengal Giving Day, scheduled for April 11 and 12. All additional gifts to the DeCou Family Endowment will be matched up to $5,000. Learn more about the DeCou’s match at bengalgivingday.com.