Suicide prevention and substance use

Title : Suicide prevention and substance use

Abstract:

Suicide, the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S., is a complex public health problem and prevention involves efforts on every level, individual, family, community and population. Death by suicide occurs when a number of underlying contributors (e.g., mental health conditions, substance use, chronic health conditions, chronic pain, family history, trauma) converge in the context of stress (e.g., job loss, divorce, financial difficulties) and the person has access to lethal means. Approximately one- third of people who die by suicide have intoxicated levels of alcohol, 18-25% have alcohol use disorder and 24% have opioids in their blood. It can be difficult to determine cause of death, suicide or accidental overdose, some of the time. A review of factors associated with suicidal thoughts, behavior and death will be reviewed along with interventions and prevention opportunities that can save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.

Audience Takeaway Notes:

• The audience will be able to describe a model for suicide
• The audience will be able to list several contributors to suicide and warning signs for risk
• The audience will be able to describe how to have a conversation with someone who is showing signs of suicide risk or about whom they are worried

Biography:

Jill Harkavy-Friedman, PhD is SVP of Research and leads the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s research program. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and has trained clinicians around the nation. Dr. Harkavy-Friedman earned her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and her PhD. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Florida. She interned at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She joined Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, establishing the Adolescent Depression and Suicide Program. In 1989, she moved to Columbia University where she’s an associate professor in the department of psychiatry. She joined the staff AFSP in 2011.