PSYC 356
The Science of Suicide and Related Psychopathology Fall 2019
Division II
This is not the current course catalog

This course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the science and study of suicide and related psychopathology (e.g., non-suicidal self-injury) in both clinical and community samples. Course topics will include prevalence across the lifespan, current models of etiology, distal and proximal indicators of suicide risk, risk assessment and safety planning, suicide prevention and science-based interventions, and an exploration of cultural factors/issues of diversity. Readings will involve empirical studies and theoretical models that have shaped the study of suicidality, and recent studies that have taken a multidisciplinary approach (e.g., neuropsychological research; machine learning) to understanding suicide. Students will evaluate published research based on theory, methodological rigor, ethical considerations, diversity/inclusion, and current gaps in the literature that contribute to difficulty in predicting and preventing suicide. Students will design and conduct an empirical research project based on the course readings and topics discussed, such as analyzing existing data sets, examining media depictions/reporting, conducting surveys, and employing analogue research.