WKU News

Dr. Amy Brausch, Professor in the WKU Department of Psychological Sciences, has been awarded a renewal on the National Institute of Mental Health, R15 AREA Grant for her project titled, “Cognitive and Contextual Factors in Suicide Ideation Persistence in Adolescents.”

In her Risk Behaviors and Suicide Prevention Lab, Dr. Brausch’s research aims to identify the unique factors that increase the risk for suicide thoughts and behaviors in adolescents and young adults.

“Suicide rates have risen for youth in the past few decades, and also, notably, in the last few years,” Dr. Brausch said.

The $418,800 award from the grant will support Dr. Brausch’s project aimed at going beyond depression and hopelessness to identify what factors make a high school student more likely to have continuing thoughts of suicide and the factors that make a high school student more likely to have those thoughts pass.  Studies will include social support, grit, mental health, sleep, stress, and the environment.

“Ultimately, I hope to use this information to develop better prevention methods for suicide and more effective treatment for those struggling with thoughts of suicide,” Dr. Brausch said.

Unique aspects of Dr. Brausch’s research include a focus on adolescents in smaller communities and rural areas, a focus on the many aspects of an adolescent’s life that may contribute to suicide risk (environment, school connections, etc.), and a focus on studying suicide risk across time to track how it changes and why.

Dr. Brausch said she hopes the research in her lab funded by the grant will also help schools and the community to find and implement resources that will prevent suicide in youth. 

“It is extremely important to me that parents, teachers, youth, school personnel, and mental health professionals have the information and resources they need to appropriately help a youth at risk for suicide.”

Several WKU students – both undergraduate and graduate – will work in the lab as research assistants and help administer the research surveys to adolescents within multiple area high schools. Additionally, Dr. Brausch estimates that dozens of students will be involved in this project over a three-year period. One of the significant components of the R15 AREA grant allows undergraduate students to get directly involved with hands-on training in the research process. They will also have opportunities to assist with conference presentations and publications on the project results, with the grant providing support for travel expenses.

With the project collecting valuable data from local high schools, the WKU region benefits from Dr. Brausch’s research. The data helps illuminate the current mental health needs of the students in our community and even identify students who may be at high risk for suicide and connect them with their school’s crisis counselor.

“Many people are surprised to hear that adolescents are very willing to talk about suicide thoughts when asked,” Dr. Brausch said. “In fact, they seem relieved that someone has asked and is listening.”