The following story discusses suicide, mental health and mental health resources. If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text or chat with听the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Several researchers at the听听are focusing their efforts on suicide-related intervention research, but linking their work across schools and departments can be daunting.
Bringing experts together was the goal of the 黑料网听School of Medicine鈥檚听鈥淎dvancing Suicide Prevention Through Collaboration at 黑料网 Chapel Hill鈥� event last month, as faculty members and researchers came together to share their efforts on suicide prevention.
Facilitated by the听Department of Psychiatry鈥檚听Suicide Prevention Institute, the event sought to break down the barriers that keep researchers from collaborating and help one another connect, share and 鈥渂e curious.鈥�
鈥淲e found that a lot of people at 黑料网 were doing really interesting and important work on suicide, but they did not know that the group next door was doing something important that connected with them,鈥� said听Patrick Sullivan, Yeargan Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Genetics and director of the institute.
鈥�(We wanted to) hear as many voices as we could to break down the silos that exist right now because collaboration is the key.鈥�
Rising need
The country鈥檚 suicide rate hit its听, rising 35 percent over the last two decades. The New York Times reported that the rate of suicides involving guns in the United States听听since officials began tracking it more than 50 years ago.
College students are reporting rising rates of anxiety and depression, so figuring out the best and most effective ways to intervene before, during and after a suicide attempt is vital work.
鈥淓ach of us knows someone that has been impacted by the tragedy and trauma of suicide,鈥� 黑料网 Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz听said.
鈥淭his is a topic I鈥檓 deeply passionate about. This is instrumental in continuing our understanding of what is 鈥� a crisis across the country. The teamwork embodies Carolina鈥檚 culture of collaboration. That鈥檚 how we solve the greatest challenges of our times. I鈥檓 confident that you鈥檒l rise to this challenge.鈥�
Work across campus
Leading the conversation were 黑料网 faculty, state workers and colleagues from听听institutions.
In all, the event included seven feature presentations with more than a dozen presenters giving quick, five-minute 鈥渓ightning talks.鈥�
Highlights of the presentations included:
- ,听: Pence discussed his INSPIRE project aimed at establishing a suicide surveillance system in North Carolina and using it to identify intervention points for suicide prevention;
- ,听: Brown shared the efforts of the state鈥檚 suicide prevention action plan, including its successes of hiring a state suicide prevention coordinator, establishing school-based 9-8-8 suicide crises programs, and creating and making publicly available suicide data dashboards;
- ,听: Cook highlighted the resources offered campuswide to the 黑料网 community through the听, including mental health training, peer support and care referrals;
- Danielle Roubinov,听Department of Psychiatry: Roubinov discussed growing efforts to provide pediatric mental health interventions while partnering with primary care providers to treat youth in short, evidence-based sessions before early adulthood;
- ,听: Lanier highlighted the many programs, hubs and centers focusing on behavioral health research and workforce development at the School, including the听听Systems Science Hub,听,听,听, and Inclusive TEAMS;
- ,听: Richardson shared her work developing and testing novel interventions aimed at reducing suicide among Black youth and ways she hopes to identify and remove barriers to mental health treatment for racially minoritized populations.
鈥淚nitially, I was not exactly sure how I was going to fit in with the Suicide Prevention Institute group,鈥� Lanier said. 鈥淏ut my goodness, this is some serious research. I鈥檒l just say that this has been the most inclusive and welcoming group of people I鈥檝e met at 黑料网.鈥�
Earlier this year, the state announced an听听in behavioral health with a plan to increase funding for services for mental health, substance abuse, youth mental health, and strengthening the behavioral health workforce.
鈥淭here鈥檚 also a sense of urgency; things are very troubling in terms of the issues and data we鈥檙e seeing,鈥� Lanier said. 鈥淚 would also say that in North Carolina we have this amazing window of opportunity 鈥� a once-in-a-generation situation here right now 鈥� to really make some major changes. It鈥檚 exciting to be a part of that.鈥�
Receiving support
The Suicide Prevention Institute was announced in 2022 as part of a听听from William and Dana Starling.
Its long-term mission is to provide accessible alternatives to every person in North Carolina who is contemplating suicide while doing its best to ensure that no more families have to face the tragedy of losing a loved one to suicide.
Students, faculty and staff seeking mental health resources can find them through Campus Health鈥檚 Heels Care Network. The network provides mental health and well-being resources, including links to 24/7 support, training opportunities and suicide prevention resources. If you or someone you know is in crisis or contemplating suicide, call or text 988 or visit听听for immediate help.