Current Projects

Suicide risk remains a growing concern among Latine university students, however research has demonstrated that Latine students do not frequently seek out formal mental health support. Undergraduate students have also reported low intentions to use a phone helpline for suicidal concerns and limited awareness of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis illuminates the experiences of undergraduate Latino students at elevated risk of suicide and how they make sense of available suicide prevention services.

Black and Latine youth experience systemic challenges in accessing mental health care, leading to delays or misdiagnoses of conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As a result, many are turning to digital tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI), mobile apps, and social media for support and self-assessment. This research aims to explore how Black and Latine Neurodivergent youth use digital technologies to manage their mental health.

*Sponsored by the Hopelab Early Career Research Grant

Older adults represent a growing population who present with historically high rates of suicide, yet little research has examined mental health service use among older adults at risk. This cross-sectional, quantitative analysis examines predictors of suicide risk and mental health service use among a community sample and a national sample of older adults at risk of suicide using the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use.

*Sponsored by the Society for Public Health Education/CDC Fellows in Injury Prevention Program and the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling Sponsored Scholarship Program

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is the new nationwide dialing code that provides free, 24/7 support to support individuals experiencing mental health, substance use, and suicidal crises. College students are experiencing these concerns at high rates, yet have been shown to have low rates of help-seeking behavior, especially in relation to the use of crisis hotlines. This exploratory study describes the rates of 988 use and help-seeking intentions among undergraduate students.

The intersection of suicide and cultural factors among individuals of Asian descent is an understudied topic. Given that suicide is the leading cause of death among Asian American college-aged adults, further investigation is essential to understanding the current levels of suicide risk among this population, including culture-specific risk factors, to influence mental health interventions that support this population. This cross-sectional, quantitative analysis aims to explore the impacts of Asian culture-specific factors on perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness among undergraduate students of Asian descent guided by the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide.

Men of color in emerging adulthood face unique barriers to accessing life-saving services, yet little literature explores help-seeking intentions at the intersection of race and gender. Given the history of harmful interactions between marginalized communities and law enforcement, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can serve as a safer alternative to support men of color during mental health crises. In this consensual qualitative research study, we examine factors that influence help-seeking for suicidal thoughts among undergraduate men of color with a reported history of suicidality.