According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (ASFP), suicide is the third leading cause of death for college-aged adults. Beginning Fall 2024, the School of Public Health is offering a new course on the science of suicide prevention.
The course, HB 618 / PUH 499, will explore the science of suicide through the five pillars of public health including epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health care organization and policy and health behavior. Students will become certified in QPR Gatekeeper Training, which is included in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices, or NREPP.
Those taking the course will work in groups to develop a media-based suicide prevention communication intervention. Examples of previous projects from the pilot of this course over Summer 2023 include a campaign for Parents of Children with Neurodiversity, Military Veterans, and People Living with a Traumatic Brain Injury. Through this course, students will have an opportunity to explore real-life examples of intervention, evaluation and health communications for a highly sensitive topic.
“I agree with clinical psychologist Dr. Paul Quinnett’s sentiment that suicide prevention is everybody’s business,” said Angela Sullivan, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Admissions and Enrollment Management at the UAB School of Public Health, Assistant Professor of Health Behavior and instructor of the course. Sullivan is also the board president of the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resources Coalition.
“Suicide prevention is frequently addressed within counseling programs, focusing on therapeutic responses tailored to individuals in crisis,” said Sullivan. “The public health lens allows us to investigate prevention efforts from both a population-wide and individual perspective. By considering the global, national, and local impact of suicide, as well as recognizing signs of crisis in individuals, students gain a comprehensive understanding that extends beyond suicide prevention to other crucial public health issues.”
This course will benefit students who are planning a career in community-focused fields like public health, healthcare or education where they may encounter people in crisis. The training provided equips students to intervene effectively during such crises, both personally and professionally.
According to the Alabama Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s state fact sheet, 75% of communities did not have enough mental health providers to serve residents in 2023, according to federal guidelines. Since the late 1980s, Alabama has had higher than the national average suicide death rates (CDC, 2023).
Through this course, Sullivan aims to achieve several goals with her students, including understanding how different aspects of public health influence suicide prevention, mastering effective communication on sensitive topics, appreciating diverse perspectives on health determinants and fostering teamwork towards common goals.
Learn more by visiting uab.edu/soph.