Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to highlight suicide risk factors experienced by graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, and then outline suicide prevention strategies for these populations. Design/methodology/approach: Through analysis of literature and application of theory, the authors use the diathesis-stress model and Joiner's…

Suicide remains a leading cause of death among adolescents and exists in detectable rates for younger children as well. Underserved ethnic and racial groups face barriers to effective mental health care, making it critical that school psychologists be prepared to incorporate cultural considerations for suicide prevention and intervention. School…

Considerable research documents that LGBTQ youth are more likely to experience mental health challenges than their heterosexual peers, including higher rates of depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This first Science-to-Practice Brief summarizes a study on protective factors related to depression and suicidality among U.S. sexual and…

Notable increases in youth mental health problems combined with strains on the already stretched mental health workforce raise concerns that there will be an ensuing increase in youth suicide thoughts, behaviors, and even deaths. Schools are recognized as crucial settings for youth mental health support and suicide prevention activities, yet…

This article provides general information and guidance for physical educators, specifically related to their role in suicide prevention. It is the duty of school personnel to recognize the vital role they have in helping to prevent suicide, to promote healthy behaviors and positive relationships, and to appropriately talk about suicide and suicide…

Among individuals ages 15 to 19, suicide is now the second leading cause of death (Heron, 2016). Social media use is ubiquitous among this age group, with 95% of youth engaging in daily use (Burns et al., 2013). As vulnerable youth find each other through social media (Joiner, 2010), this trend can conceivably impact a large number of adolescents.…

As 69% of 12-15 year olds have social media profiles (Ofcom, 2019), the widespread impact, ease of accessibility, and frequent access makes online social networks a promising avenue to address adolescent suicide. The lines between technology and education have been increasingly blurred (Brodwin, 2019) and seemingly have now merged with mental…

Increasing rates of depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among college students were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This report describes how components of the Johns Hopkins Suicide Prevention Awareness, Response and Coordination (JH-SPARC) Project aligned with a multi-faceted strategy for suicide…

Military culture may affect the psychological functioning of military students who seek services in university and college counseling centers (UCCCs). Further, mental health professionals, including practicum and intern students, working in UCCCs may not be adequately trained to provide multiculturally competent services to military students.…

There is probably no more difficult aspect of school-based mental health practice than navigating assessment, prevention, and postvention related to youth suicide. Although many schools follow best practices and respond appropriately, there are important lessons to be learned from cases that resulted in litigation. This article reviews key cases…

Schools have an important role to play in adolescent suicide prevention. This article describes universal screenings for depression and suicidality as one component of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) program in middle and high schools following the suicide death of a student in the past few years. Of the students screened (N = 7,429), 11.0 percent of…

The rise of social media use among school youth has compelled school districts to implement social media monitoring to prevent active shootings, bullying, harassment, victimization, and suicide in the community. This presents an ethical and legal dilemma, with issues surrounding students' rights to safety, privacy, and free speech in cyberspace.…

Some students with gifts and talents (SWGT) are among the thousands of youths who die by suicide every year, although there is no way to know how many. Research indicates they are not more likely to engage in suicidal behaviors than other students. They do have unique risk and protective factors, however. Risk factors can accumulate to outweigh…

The social distancing mandate, implemented in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, has guided many schools to deliver instruction via distance learning. Among the many challenges generated by this delivery system is the need for school mental health services, including school suicide prevention and intervention, to…

Among all in-school factors that impact student learning, teachers carry the most weight -- but school leaders are not far behind. Decades of research have proven the positive influence principals can have on student achievement, school climate and teaching quality. New evidence suggests that their impact may be even greater than previously…