University of Kentucky: Connecting and Networking for Suicide Prevention (UK:CAN)
University of Kentucky: Connecting and Networking for Suicide Prevention (UK:CAN) creates a new network at the University of Kentucky to decrease suicide attempts and deaths, increase help-seeking and decrease stigma around mental health on campus. This innovative project brings together expertise from across campus and is led by a team with substantial national experience in suicide prevention. It leverages support from across campus including Student Academic Life, College of Nursing, College of Agriculture, College of Communication and UK Public Relations.
UK:CAN is led by Dr. Julie Cerel, Professor in the College of Social Work with co-leadership from Dr. Corrine Williams, Associate Vice President for Student Wellbeing.
Kentucky Youth Suicide Prevention- KY SAFETY
This 5 year grant from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded to the Kentucky Department for Mental Health provides communities of practice in schools and communities for youth suicide prevention. It includes Dr. Cerel’s CODE RED, a universal safety planning training as well as enhanced evaluation of postvention efforts in schools and communities. CODE RED evaluation includes trainers, adults and youth who receive the training.
Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention- SAFLEO
Working with the American Association of Suicidology & Institute for Intergovernmental Research, this project helps provide training for law enforcement suicide prevention. SAFLEO provides training and resources for law enforcement and their families. SPEL’s contributions have been to evaluate the trainings, serve as subject matter experts and create deliverable content to show how suicide exposure impacts officers and the need for postvention services.
Suicide Exposure in Post 9/11 Veterans
Led by the Minneapolis VA, this VA HSRD-funded project surveys younger veterans nationally to determine the extent and impact of suicide exposure. Dr. Cerel serves as a team member.
Identifying the longitudinal outcomes of suicide loss in a population-based cohort
Funded by the NIH, this R01 utilizes the Danish national registry data to document the mental and physical health outcomes and comorbidities among the population of individuals exposed to suicide loss over a 30-year period. Denmark has a universal healthcare system, with government supported nationwide electronic health and social registries, and the ability to link records across registries and individuals using unique personal/family identifiers and address information.
A pilot study of Psychological First Aid for suicide loss survivors in Medical Examiner/Coroners Offices
This American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) funded early career mentored research grant examines the impact of training loss survivors in Psychological first aid.
Interested in learning more about any of these projects or the Lab itself? Reach out and we will connect you with the project lead.
Recent Publications
Publications
- Cerel, J, Fruhbauerova, M. Edwards, A., Murphy, L, Salt, E., Whipple, B. Clark, P. & Ackerman, J. (2024) Universal Safety Planning for Suicide Prevention: CODE RED Initial Feasibility and Acceptability. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 21 (12), 1704 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121704
- Feigelman, W., Cerel, J., Gutin, N., McIntosh, J., Gorman, B. S., Bottomley, J. S. & Edwards, A. (5/2024). Examining the associations between substance misuse and suicide bereavement. Omega. DOI: 10.1177/00302228241254133
- Pitman, A, McDonald, K., Logeswaran, Y., Lewis, G., Cerel, J., Lewis, G., & Erlangsen, A. (3/2024). The role of depression and use of alcohol and other drugs after partner suicide in the association between suicide bereavement and suicide: cohort study in the Danish population. Psychological Medicine 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/ S0033291724000448.
- Brown, H. L., Selbe, S. M., Rosellini, A. J., Gradus, J. L., Maple, M. & Cerel, J. (in press 2/5/2024, published 2/20) The Impact of Relationship Type and Closeness on Mental Health following Suicide Loss. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior. http://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.13063
- Xiao, Y., Bi, K., Yip, P. S., Cerel, J, T.T., Peng. Y., Pathak, J, & Mann. J. J., MD (3/2024). Decoding Suicide Decedent Profiles and Signs of Suicidal Intent using Latent Class Analysis. JAMA Psychiatry doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.0171
- Jamieson, S., Maple, M. & Cerel, J. (1/2024) Impacts of exposure to suicide of a military colleague from the lived experience of veterans: informing postvention responses from a military cultural perspective. Death Studies https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2023.2261408.
- Athey, A., Kilmer, B. & Cerel, J. (published 2/21/2024). An Overlooked Emergency: More than 4 in 10 U.S. Adults Are Negatively Affected by Drug Overdose Deaths. American Journal of Public Health 114, 276_279, https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307550
- Sayer NA, Nelson DB, Gradus JL, Sripada RK, Murdoch M, Teo AR, Orazem R, Cerel J. The Effects of Suicide Exposure on Mental Health Outcomes among Post-9/11 Veterans: Protocol for an Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study (2023) JMIR Res Protoc 2023;0:e0 URL: https://www.researchprotocols.org/2023/0/e0/ http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/51324
- Pitman, A, Lewis, G., McDonald, K., Cerel, J. & Erlangsen, A. (2023) Investigating risk of self-harm and suicide on anniversaries after bereavement by suicide and other causes: a Danish population-based self-controlled case series study. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences
- Aldrich, R. A. & Cerel, J. (2023). Willingness to Intervene against Suicide Enhanced Questionnaire, Health Communication. DOI: 1080/10410236.2023.2227435
- Moore, M., Palmer, J., Cerel, J. & Ruocco, K. (2023). Growth and Hope After Loss: How TAPS facilitates Posttraumatic Growth in those grieving military deaths. Frontiers in Psychology
- Willis-Powell, R., Fox, A., Cerel, J. (2022). Disclosure of Youth Suicidality: Views from Lived Experience. In: Ackerman, J.P., Horowitz, L.M. (eds) Youth Suicide Prevention and Intervention. SpringerBriefs in Psychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06127-1_18
- Jamieson, S., Cerel, J & Maple, M. (2022) Social and cultural dimensions of the impact of exposure to suicide or traumatic death of a military colleague: a retrospective veteran study. Social Science and Medicine- Qualitative Research in Health https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2022.100160
- Pitman, A, McDonald, K., Lewis, G., Cerel, J. & Erlangsen, A. (8/2022) Proportion of suicides in Denmark attributable to bereavement by the suicide of a first-degree relative or partner: nested case-control study. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 2022 Aug 23. doi: 10.1111/acps.13493.
- Maple, M., Cerel, J., Sanford, R., Shand, F., Batterham, P. & Bhullard, N. (6/2/2022). A Brief Screener of Suicide Death Exposure-related Distress for use in therapeutic settings. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12894
- Salt, E., Wiggins, A., Hall, C, Ellis, M., Cerel, J., Adkins, B., Cooper, G. & Rayens, M. (2022) Increased Rates of Suicide Ideation and Attempts in Rural Dwellers Following the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. Journal of Rural Health. http://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12686
- Kheibari, A., Szechy, K, Cerel, J, & Fruhbauerova, M (2022) Exploring the Psychometric Properties of the Stigma of Suicide Scale Using a Sample of Adults Bereaved by Suicide and Suicide Attempt Survivors. OMEGA – Journal of Death & Dying. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228221097828
- Pardue-Bourgeois, S., Cerel, J., & Tucker, R. P. (2022). From and for folx: Relationships between forms of social support and suicidal thinking in transgender and gender diverse adults. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000564
- Snow, A., Cerel, J. & Frey, L. (2022) A Safe Bet? Transgender and Gender Diverse Experiences with Inclusive Therapists. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. DOI: 1037/ort0000599
- Cerel, J., Jones, B., Brown, M .M, Weistenhorn, D., & Patel, K. (2018) Suicide Exposure in Law Enforcement Officers. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior. DOI: 1111/sltb.12516
- Cerel, J., Brown, M., Maple, M., Singleton, M., van de Venne, J, Moore, M. & Flaherty, C (2018). How many people are exposed to suicide? Not six. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12450
- Feigelman, W., Cerel, J, McIntosh, J, Brent, D & Gutin, N. (2018) Suicide Exposures and Bereavement Among American Adults: Evidence from the 2016 General Social Survey Journal of Affective Disorders.1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.056
- *Frey, L. M. & Cerel, J. (2015). Risk for Suicide and the Role of Family: A Narrative Review. Journal of Family Issues. 36 (6) 716-736 DOI: 10.1177/0192513X13515885
- Cerel, J. McIntosh, J., Neimeyer, R., Maple, M & Marshall, D. (2014). The Continuum of Survivorship: Definitional Issues in the Aftermath of Suicide. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior. doi: 10.1111/sltb.12093
- *Aldrich, R. S., Harrington, N. G. & Cerel, J. (2014). The willingness to intervene against suicide questionnaire. Death Studies.38 (2). 100-108. DOI:10.1080/07481187.2012.738763
- Cerel, J., Jordan, J.R., & Duberstein, P.R. (2008). The impact of suicide on the family. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 29(1), 38-44. PMID: 18389644
Media Appearances
- Hollywood Reporter (2024, December 16). Quoted in Two Tragic Years at L.A.’s Most Elite Private School – The Hollywood Reporter
- WPR (2024, November 8) Interviewed for Death of Milwaukee alder who advocated for suicide prevention efforts shakes community – WPR
- Impact of Influence Podcast (2024, May 10). Interviewed for Impact of Influence: Mica Miller Tragedy https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/E7177/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/FPMN5811946418.mp3?updated=1715351218
- UKnow (2024, May 13) Interviewed for Get trained to help with a mental health crisis through this UK HealthCare initiative | UKNow (uky.edu)
- WKYT (2024, March 16) Quoted in “Losing someone to overdose can have lasting impacts” Losing someone to an overdose can have lasting impacts, study finds (wkyt.com)
- UKNow (2024, March 7). “More than 40 percent of americans know someone who died of a drug overdose” https://uknow.uky.edu/research/more-40-americans-know-someone-who-died-drug-overdose-uk-researcher-finds
- Washington Post (2023, July 16). Quoted in “After child’s suicide, parents can be engulfed in self-blame and guilt” https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/07/15/suicide-parents-survivors-guilt/
- Medscape (2023, July 18). Quoted in “Handling Your Grief After a Patient’s Suicide” https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/994491?src=
- Fox56 (2023, June 21). Interviewed for “CDC ranks Kentucky 2nd highest state with depression in 2020: Expert says there’s a positive takeaway” https://fox56news.com/news/kentucky/cdc-ranks-kentucky-2nd-highest-state-with-depression-in-2020-expert-says-theres-a-positive-takeaway/
- The Hill (2023, May 18). Interviewed for “More women attempt suicide. More men die by suicide” https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4009420-more-women-attempt-suicide-more-men-die-by-suicide/
- Lexington Herald Leader (2023, March 2) Interviewed for “A ‘LGBTQ+ mental health crisis’ could form in KY as anti-trans bills advance, experts say” https://amp.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article272594210.html
- NBC (2023, February 13). Interviewed for “CDC says teen girls are caught in an extreme wave of sadness and violence” https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/teen-mental-health-cdc-girls-sadness-violence-rcna69964
- Lex18 (2023, January 25). Interviewed for “Mental health hotline calls are up in Kentucky” https://www.lex18.com/news/mental-health-hotline-calls-are-up-in-kentucky
- WebMD (2023, January 24) Interviewed for “Healing and rebuilding your life after a spouse’s suicide” https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/news/20230124/healing-and-rebuilding-your-life-after-a-spouses-suicide
- NBC news (2022, December 22). Interviewed for “Adults say they’re expecting more stress in 2023, survey finds” https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/adults-say-expecting-stress-2023-survey-finds-rcna62580
- Fox 56 Lexington (2022, December 15) Interviewed for “Death of Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss: UK psychologist says check on your strong friends” https://fox56news.com/news/local/death-of-stephen-twitch-boss-uk-psychologist-says-check-on-your-strong-friends/
- WTVQ (2022, November 30). Quoted in “Veterans Organization Shine Light on Recent Suicides” https://www.wtvq.com/veterans-organization-shines-light-on-recent-suicides/
- NBC news (2022, September 30). Quoted in “After 2-year decline, suicide rates rise again” https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/2-year-decline-suicide-rates-rise-rcna49766
- Wildhealth Podcast (2022, September 14). Suicide Prevention feat. Dr. Julie Cerel and Dr. Kristin Dawson https://wildhealth.libsyn.com/suicide-prevention-feat-dr-julie-cerel-and-dr-kristin-dawson
- Fox Lexington (2022, July 14). Interviewed for “New 988 mental health hotline available to Kentuckians” https://foxlexington.com/news/kentucky/new-988-mental-health-hotline-available-to-kentuckians/
- Moore & Cerel (2022, June 9). Op-ed Lexington Herald Leader “Suicide impacts all of us. We must support survivors as we unravel its traumas.” https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article262296842.html
- NBC news (2022, June 7). Quoted in “There’s a new national hotline for mental health. How will we pay for it?” https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/988-suicide-prevention-hotline-launches-july-will-pay-rcna31701
- Today Show (2022, May 31). Quoted in “How to talk to your college kid about suicide” https://www.today.com/parents/parents/how-to-talk-college-kids-suicide-rcna29114 and “Families of college students who died by suicide unite for ‘powerful moment’ of healing” https://www.today.com/parents/parents/college-students-suicide-families-rcna30737
- Today Show (2022, April 12). Quoted in “Screening for anxiety and depression may be useful for kids as young as 12”. https://www.today.com/health/mind-body/screening-anxiety-depression-may-useful-kids-young-12-rcna24097
- NBCnews (2022, March 4). Quoted in “Can parents help prevent suicides? Experts say there may be no warning signs.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna18713
- UKnow (2022, January 28). Study Examines Pandemic Impact on Suicide Attempt Survivors https://www.ccts.uky.edu/news/study-examines-pandemic-impact-suicide-attempt-survivors?j=458203&sfmc_sub=122677928&l=22071_HTML&u=13462842&mid=10966798&jb=0
- Lawofficer (2022, January 9). Quoted in “Aftermath of a law enforcement suicide” https://www.lawofficer.com/aftermath-of-police-suicide/
Recently Completed Projects
Personal and Professional Exposure to Suicide in Military Populations
With funding from the DOD-funded Military Suicide Research Consortium, this project examines suicide exposure in the Kentucky Army National Guard as well as the experience of military helping professionals (like social workers, psychologists, & chaplains) in working with people who die by suicide.
Mental Health & Suicide Attempt Survivors in the time of COVID-19
Funded by a University of Kentucky COVID CURES CORE 3 grant, this project aims to examine if suicide attempt survivors experience more difficulty than those without a history of suicide as a result of social restrictions brought about by COVID-19.
Rural Suicide
Utilizing data from the National Violent Data Reporting System, this project examines variables relevant to suicide in specific rural populations such as farmers, veterans and youth.
Working with collaborators in Australia, this project also examined differences in US and Australia in terms of farmer suicide.
Surviving Suicide: Convening Lived Experience and Research Communities to Improve Patient-Centered Outcomes
Funded by a PCORI Convening Grant, this project brought together people with lived experience of suicide and researchers to create guidance for research that better includes the voice of lived experience of suicide