Publications

Help-Seeking, Crisis Intervention, & Suicide Prevention in Emerging Adulthood

Addressing suicide risk in counseling: The role of social determinants of health in a national sample of young adults

Suicide risk remains high among young adults, even for those already engaged in mental health care, yet the structural factors that influence this risk are not well understood. Using national data, we found that lower educational attainment was linked to higher odds of suicidal ideation, while lack of health insurance and frequent moves were associated with suicide attempts among 18-25 year olds who received mental health services in the past year. These findings highlight the need for counselors to incorporate social determinants of health into assessment, safety planning, and intervention to better address the systemic conditions that influence suicide risk in this population.

Wahesh, E., Jones, L. K., & Shaikh, A. N. (2025). Addressing suicide risk in counseling: The role of social determinants of health in a national sample of young adults. Journal of Counseling & Development. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.70015

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Evaluating college student knowledge and utilization of crisis services

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is the new nationwide dialing code that was implemented in July 2022 to address mental health, substance use, and suicidal crises. Low awareness and limited use of the 988 Lifeline among college students may reduce its potential to prevent suicide and address mental health crises. Among a racially diverse sample of college students, we found that more than half of students had never heard of the 988 Lifeline, very few reported using it, and those with higher suicide risk and more frequent substance use were less likely to seek help. These findings highlight the need for targeted outreach and culturally responsive approaches to increase knowledge and use of the 988 Lifeline among college populations.

Shaikh, A. N., Westcott, J. B., Mize, M., & Chang, C. Y. (2025). The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Evaluating college student knowledge and utilization of crisis services. Journal of American College Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2025.2542413

Impact of social determinants of health and individual characteristics on suicidal ideation and treatment utilization among young adults aged 18-25 in the US

Many young adults in the U.S. experience suicidal ideation but encounter barriers to mental health treatment. Using nationally representative data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we found that factors like lower education, housing instability, rural residence, and exposure to community drug activity were linked to higher suicide risk among young adults aged 18-25. Among those with suicidal ideation, treatment use was more likely for those with insurance and college education, and less likely for those who were unemployed or exposed to community drug activity. These findings underscore the need for public health efforts that directly address social determinants of health to reduce suicide risk and improve mental health care access for young adults.

Wahesh, E., Jones, L. K., & Shaikh, A. N. (2025). Impact of social determinants of health and individual characteristics on suicide ideation and treatment utilization among young adults aged 18-25 in the US. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-025-01540-z

Culturally relevant risk and well-being factors of suicide and perceived burdensomeness in an Asian young adult sample

Suicide risk among Asian young adults is a major concern, but the cultural factors that contribute to this risk are not fully understood. We found that factors, including family shame and family perfectionism, play a significant role in feeling like a burden – a key risk for suicidal thoughts – among Asian young adults, which can increase the risk of suicide behavior. These findings stress the importance of mental health treatments that take cultural factors into account, in order to enhance the effectiveness of suicide prevention efforts for Asian young adults.

Hsu, L.-C., Shaikh, A. N., Chang, C. Y., Wang, K., Rice, K. G., & Suh, H. N. (2025). Culturally relevant risk and well-being factors of suicide and perceived burdensomeness in an Asian young adult sample. Asian American Journal of Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/aap0000377

*Selected as Editor’s Choice article by the Asian American Journal of Psychology

Culturally-relevant predictors of thwarted belongingness among college students of Asian descent

Suicide is a leading cause of death for college students in the U.S. and the top cause for Asian American college-aged adults. We examined how cultural factors, such as shame, discrimination, ethnic identity, and perfectionism, contribute to feelings of not belonging in Asian and Asian American college students. This study highlights the need for culturally tailored mental health interventions to address suicide risk factors among college students of Asian descent. We provide strategies for college counselors, including increasing representation among counselors, partnering with Asian student organizations, and creating inclusive spaces to foster belonging.

Shaikh, A. N., Dhar, J., Hsu, L. -C., Kim Chang, M., Yang, J., Sadek, K., & Chang, C. Y. (2025). Culturally-relevant predictors of thwarted belongingness among college students of Asian descent. Journal of College Student Mental Health, 1-21.  https://doi.org/10.1080/28367138.2025.2459097

Implications of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline among college students experiencing substance use crises

Substance use is a major concern on college campuses and is linked to poor mental health, but many students are reluctant to seek help. The new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, 24/7 support that could help address this issue. We found that students who use substances more frequently are less likely to seek help for suicidal thoughts and are even less likely to contact the Lifeline for substance-related issues. Counselors can create supportive environments that reduce stigma, implement targeted outreach programs, and develop strategies to engage students who may be hesitant to ask for help, particularly those struggling with substance use.

Shaikh, A. N., Flynn, L., Isaac, A., Prince, A., Burgan, M., & Coleman, J. (2024). Implications of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline among college students experiencing substance use crises. The Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 45(1), 55-69. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaoc.12131

Examining help-seeking intentions among Gen Z college students

Generation Z college students face significant stressors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially leading to higher rates of suicide and reported stress compared to other generations. In this study, we found that students who felt a lack of belonging were less likely to seek help for personal and emotional issues, with no notable differences based on race or gender. Counselors are encouraged to foster social connections, develop targeted support programs for this generation, and promote awareness of life-saving resources within their networks.

Shaikh, A. N., Westcott, J., Franck Love, S., Flynn, L., Chang, C., & Mize, M.C.B. (2023). Examining help-seeking intentions among Gen Z college students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 38(3), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2023.2198155

Aging, Suicide Risk, & Counselor Training

Strategies for integrating aging and older adulthood into counselor training

Recent changes to Medicare mental health laws will give professional counselors more chances to work with older adults. However, there has been a lack of counselor training focused on this population, highlighting the need for better preparation. By looking at fields like gerontology, social work, and geropsychology, we share training approaches that could benefit counselors in serving older adult clients.

Fullen, M., Westcott, J., Bradley, K., Dockery, N., Lee, J., Mushunje, R., Shaikh, A. N. (2025). Strategies for integrating aging and older adulthood into counselor training. Adultspan Journal, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.33470/2161-0029.1187

The effects of age cohort and gender on internalized heterosexism over time among sexual minority adults in the United States

Sexual minority adults face unique mental health challenges, with internalized heterosexism playing a significant role. Using national, longitudinal data collected over two years, we examined differences in IH by age and gender across three age cohorts of sexuality minority adults in the U.S. Our findings suggest that men have greater internalized heterosexism across the lifespan than other gender categories, but that internalized heterosexism decreases over time.

Westcott, J. B., Shaikh, A. N., & Miyazaki, Y. (2025). The effects of age and gender on internalized heterosexism over time among sexual minority adults in the United States. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000803

Using The Gerontological Imagination to explore suicide among older adults: An interdisciplinary perspective for professional counselors

Gerontology is the study of aging, involving fields like medicine, psychology, and social work. As the number of older adults grows, so do mental health concerns, including suicide risk, with older adults making up a significant portion of suicide cases in the U.S. Professional counselors, now eligible to enroll as Medicare providers, can help improve mental health care access for this population. We share how counselors can play a crucial role in addressing suicide risks among older adults using a framework called The Gerontological Imagination.

Mize, M. C. B. & Shaikh, A. N. (2024). Using The Gerontological Imagination to explore suicide among older adults: An interdisciplinary perspective for professional counselors. Adultspan Journal. https://doi.org/10.33470/2161-0029.1174

Suicide risk factors among older adults: Implications for counselors as Medicare providers

Older adults who receive home-delivered meals face mental health challenges due to isolation, which was worsened by the pandemic. In this study, we look at how feelings of not belonging and being a burden relate to factors like chronic pain and loneliness among older adults. By understanding these connections, counselors can develop better interventions to help reduce loneliness, improve social support, and identify suicide risks among older adults.

Mize, M., Shannonhouse, L., Barrio Minton, C., Fullen, M., Shaikh, A. N., & Westcott, J. (2024). Suicide risk factors among older adults: Implications for counselors as Medicare providers. Journal of Counseling & Development, 102(3), 292-301. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12512

*Received the 2024 Outstanding Research Award by the Association for Adult Development and Aging

Anti-Oppressive Practices in Counselor Education, Training, & Research

Application of the principles of anti-oppression to address marginalized student and faculty’s experiences in counselor education

Despite ongoing efforts to make counseling more inclusive, students and faculty from marginalized groups still face harmful experiences, highlighting the need for counselor education programs to take urgent action. Recent laws have negatively affected communities such as women, immigrants, and LGBTQIA2S+ adults, revealing deep-rooted issues of power and privilege in academic settings. To tackle these challenges, we discuss using anti-oppression principles to address common negative experiences faced by marginalized students and faculty in counselor education.

Shaikh, A. N., Gummaluri, S., Dhar, J., Carter, H., Kwag, D., Ponce, J. E., Mason, E. C. M., & Peters, H. C. (2024). Application of the principles of anti-oppression to address marginalized student and faculty’s experiences in counselor education. Teaching and Supervision in Counseling, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.7290/tsc06laio

*Received the 2025 Outstanding Article Award by Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Assessing social determinants of mental health: Client experiences and counselor practices

Social and economic challenges play a major role in clients’ mental health, yet it is unclear how consistently these factors are assessed in counseling. We found that social determinants of mental health (SDMH) assessments were often limited to verbal discussions of health and economic issues, with notable disparities by race and counseling setting, and that more thorough assessment was linked to higher client satisfaction. These findings highlight the need for more equitable and systematic SDMH assessment practices across counseling contexts.

Gantt-Howrey, A., Lin, M., Shaikh, A., Johnson, K. F., Preston, J. W., & Wilson, L. (2024). Assessing social determinants of mental health: Client experiences and counselor practices. Journal of Counseling & Development, 102(4), 394-405. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12519

Application of principles of anti-oppression to the teaching of group counseling

Peters and Luke’s Principles of Anti-Oppression offer a fresh approach for counselors to promote equity, justice, and freedom in society. Group counseling is a fitting area to implement these principles because groups function as small social communities and encourage critical reflection and action among participants. We examine how counselor educators can effectively incorporate these anti-oppression principles into their teaching of group counseling.

Grant, K., Mason, E., Ernst, S., & Shaikh, A. (2023). Application of principles of anti-oppression to the teaching of group counseling. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 48(2), 109-127. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2023.2197162

Conducting ethical, anti-racist school-based research

Educational research often takes place within a system that is influenced by oppressive, Eurocentric norms and rooted in racism. To challenge this, we critically assess traditional research methods that have perpetuated these inequalities and offer strategies for conducting ethical, antiracist research. We aimed to highlight inequities in education while promoting practices that benefit all students, particularly those from racially marginalized groups.

Zyromski, B., Shrewsbury-Braxton, S., Johnson, K., Henry, S., Lee, S., Clemons, K., Saunders, R., & Shaikh, A. (2023). Conducting ethical, anti-racist school-based research. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, 9(2), 101-121. https://doi.org/10.1080/23727810.2023.2225781