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Recent Publications

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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.
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. Aldrich, R. A. & Cerel, J. (2023). Willingness to Intervene against Suicide Enhanced Questionnaire, Health Communication. DOI: 1080/10410236.2023.2227435
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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.
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. *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
  24. 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
  25. *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
  26. 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

SPEL in the news

  1. Hollywood Reporter (2024, December 16). Quoted in Two Tragic Years at L.A.’s Most Elite Private School – The Hollywood Reporter
  2. WPR (2024, November 8) Interviewed for Death of Milwaukee alder who advocated for suicide prevention efforts shakes community – WPR
  3. 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
  4. UKnow (2024, May 13)  Interviewed for Get trained to help with a mental health crisis through this UK HealthCare initiative | UKNow (uky.edu)
  5. 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)
  6. 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
  7. 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/
  8. Medscape (2023, July 18). Quoted in “Handling Your Grief After a Patient’s Suicide” https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/994491?src=
  9. 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/
  10. 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/
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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/
  17. WTVQ (2022, November 30). Quoted in “Veterans Organization Shine Light on Recent Suicides” https://www.wtvq.com/veterans-organization-shines-light-on-recent-suicides/
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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/
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. 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
  27. Lawofficer (2022, January 9). Quoted in “Aftermath of a law enforcement suicide” https://www.lawofficer.com/aftermath-of-police-suicide/

2021

Temporal Trends in Suicidal Ideation and Attempts Among US Adolescents by Sex and Race/Ethnicity, 1991-2019

JAMA Network Open

Xiao, Y., Cerel, J., & Mann, J. J. (2021). 

The findings of this study show apparent sex and racial/ethnic differences in trends in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Increases in suicidal ideation since 2009 were observed in female individuals; changes in male and Black adolescents represented the largest increase in the prevalence of suicide attempts between 1991 and 2019. Evidence-based suicide prevention programs need to be tailored by sex and race/ethnicity, calling for greater diversification of health care system, school, and community prevention approaches.

People affected by suicide attempts: frequency, impact, and perceived support

Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior

Hvidkjær, K. L., Ranning, L , A., Madsen, T., Fleischer, E., Eckardt , J. P., Nordentoft , M., Cerel, J. & Erlangsen, A. (2021). 

Suicide attempt affects a substantial share of the population, and it might be relevant to ensure that support is available for those exposed perceived to be in need of support.

A comparison of farmer and non-farmer suicides from the United States National Violent Deaths Reporting System, 2003-2016

Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior

Kennedy, A. J., Cerel, J., Kheibari, A. & Watts, J. (2021).

Farmers are at higher risk of suicide than other occupations and the general population. The complex suicide risk factors have not been examined in a large, population-wide study across a significant time period. This observational study draws on existing data from the United States’ National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), including 140,523 farming- or non-farming-related suicide decedents between 2003 and 2016 from across 40 states. “Farming-related” decedents included 2,801 suicides. Farmers had higher odds of being male, older, less well-educated, and American Indian/Alaska Native. Farmers had higher odds of using firearms and—when farmers used a gun—higher odds of using a long-arm weapon. Farmers had lower odds of having a known mental health condition or job problem, and lower odds of having made a previous suicide attempt or leaving a suicide note. Findings highlight the complexity of suicide risk within the context of farming in the United States and reinforce the need for tailored prevention efforts; employing means restriction of firearms; and emphasizing that traditional risk factors may not be as common in the farming population.

Suicide Exposure in Crisis Workers

Crisis

Long, M.M., Cerel, J., Aldrich, R.S. Kheibari, A. (2021).

Over a third of participants (33.9%, n = 37) reported that they had lost at least one client to suicide, with an average of 2.30 clients (SD = 4.47) lost to suicide. Over three quarters (77.1%, n = 81) of study participants reported they had experienced at least one personal loss to suicide. Those who perceived their relationship to the personal suicide as close or very close had significantly greater PTSD symptoms (M = 3.29, SD = 2.23) than those who perceived their relationship as not at all close, not close, or somewhat close (M = 1.38, SD = 1.69), t(20) = −2.10, p = .049.

2020

Suicide Exposure in Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults

JAD. 278, 165-171

Cerel, J., Tucker, R.P, & Snow, A. (2020).

Exposure to the suicidal behavior of close others is prevalent in TGD individuals: over half of participants were close to someone who attempted suicide, more than in population-based studies of suicide exposure. Exposure appears to have a potential effect on recent indicators of psychological distress and suicide risk, which is important to consider when working in TGD communities.

Rates of exposure to natural, accidental, and suicide deaths

Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior

Nadorff, M.R., DeShong, H.L., Golding, S., Cerel, J., McDaniel, C.J., Pate, A.R., Kelley, K., & Walgren, M.D. (2021). 

Overall, the current study presents updated prevalence rates of exposure to various types of death and replicates previous findings of a decrease in willingness to disclose suicides when compared with other causes of death.

Occupational Suicide Exposure and Impact on Mental Health: Examining Differences across Helping Professions. OMEGA

Journal of Death and Dying

Aldrich, R. S., & Cerel, J. (2020).

College students have poor knowledge of suicide facts; however, this low level of accurate knowledge was not associated with intention to intervene with a suicidal person. Attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, sex, and no previous suicide attempt were all significant predictors of intention to intervene.

2019

Suicide notes: Assessing their impact on the bereaved

Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior

Feigelman, W., Sanford, R. S. & Cerel, J, (2019).

We found no significant differences in mental health outcomes between those who received suicide notes and those who had not; nor were differences noted between those whose notes contained helpful or unhelpful information and those who had not received such information.

Public health surveillance of youth suicide attempts: Challenges and opportunities

Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior

Singleton, M.D., Frey, L. M., Webb, A., & Cerel, J. (2019).

We estimated 943 students reporting a suicide attempt for every suicide death, a result that is higher than previous estimates for youth. Self-reported suicide attempts resulting in medical treatment were 7.5 times higher than self-injuries reported in claims records.