Adolescent and Young Adult Suicide

Adolescents and young adults, including college students, are among those most at risk for suicide and recent reports have suggested that the rates of suicide in these groups are increasing. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents and the second leading cause of death among college students in the United States. In our lab, we have investigated several risk factors for suicide among these at-risk groups, including depression, hopelessness, alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, body image, sexual attraction status, intimate partner violence, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness.

It is our belief that not just one, or even a few, of these variables confer the most risk for engaging in suicidal behaviors (e.g., ideation, attempts, proneness), but several interrelated risk factors that drive an individual to overcome the most basic human instinct of all: self-preservation. Suicide is a complex phenomenon and we hope, through our research, to gain a better understanding of why people choose to end their lives. Once the nature of the associations among risk factors and suicidal behaviors are better understood, more effective suicide prevention programs may be designed and implemented.

Understanding & Preventing College Student Suicide, edited by Dorian Lamis and David Lester, was published in 2011 by Charles C. Thomas Publishers.

Relevant Forthcoming, Recent, and Representative Presentations and Publications:

  • Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., Hudson, K., Lamis, D. A., & Carr, N. (in press). Psychometric properties of a suicide screen for adjudicated youth in residential care. Death Studies. Abstract
  • Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., Lamis, D. A., & McCullars, A. (in press). Suicide interventions targeted toward at-risk youth. Alabama Counseling Association Journal. Abstract
  • York, J., Lamis, D. A., Garfinkel, P. W., Bluestein, N. P., Boxx, M., Ellis, A. et al. (in press). Family drug treatment courts and social determinants of health. Family Court Review. Abstract
  • Lamis, D. A., Malone, P. S., & Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J. (2011, April). Depressive symptoms and suicide ideation in U.S. and Japanese college students: Hopelessness as a potential mediator. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Association of Suicidology, Portland, OR.
  • Freedenthal, S., Lamis, D. A., Osman, A., Kahlo, D., & Gutierrez, P. M. (2011). Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire-12 in samples of men and women. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67, 609-623. Abstract
  • Lamis, D. A., & Bagge, C. L. (2011). Alcohol involvement and suicidality in college students. In D. A. Lamis & D. Lester (Eds.), Understanding and preventing college student suicide, pp.119-133. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. Summary
  • Lamis, D. A., & Malone, P. S. (2011). Alcohol-related problems and risk of suicide among college students: The mediating roles of belongingness and burdensomeness. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 41, 543-553. Abstract
  • Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., Lamis, D. A., & Malone, P. S. (2011). Sexual attraction status and adolescent suicide proneness: The roles of hopelessness, depression, and social support. Journal of Homosexuality, 58, 52-82. Abstract
  • Lamis, D. A., & Malone, P. S. (2010, November). Alcohol-related problems and suicidal behavior among college students: Belongingness and burdensomeness as potential mediators. Paper presented at the meeting of the Society for Public Health Education, Denver, CO.
  • Lamis, D. A., Malone, P. S., & Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J. (2010). Involvement in intimate partner psychological abuse and suicide proneness in college women: Alcohol related problems as a potential mediator. Partner Abuse, 1, 169-185. PMCID: PMC2882695 Partner Abuse, 1, 169-185. Abstract
  • Lamis, D. A., Malone, P. S., Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., & Ellis, T. E. (2010). Body investment, depression, and alcohol use as risk factors for suicide proneness in college students. Crisis, 31, 118-127. PMCID: PMC2892815 Abstract
  • Lamis, D. A., Ellis, J., Chumney, F., & Dula, C. (2009). Reasons for living and alcohol use among college students. Death Studies, 33, 277-286. Abstract
  • Lamis, D. A., Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., & Simpler, A. (2008). The associations among personality disorders, suicide proneness, and current distress in adult male prisoners. Personality and Mental Health, 2, 218-229. Abstract

Updated October 6, 2011

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