Leveraging the Strengths of Psychologists With Lived Experience of Psychopathology.

Psychopathology is a common element of the human experience, and psychological scientists are not immune. Recent empirical data demonstrate that a significant proportion of clinical, counseling, and school psychology faculty and graduate students have lived experience, both past and present, of psychopathology. This commentary compliments these findings by leveraging the perspectives of the authors and signatories, who have personal lived experience of psychopathology, to improve professional inclusivity in these fields. By "coming out proud," the authors aim to foster discussion, research, and inclusion efforts as they relate to psychopathology experiences in psychological science. To that end, the authors describe considerations related to disclosure of lived experience, identify barriers to inclusion, and provide concrete recommendations for personal and systemic changes to improve recognition and acceptance of psychopathology lived experience among psychologists.

Only Human: Mental-Health Difficulties Among Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychology Faculty and Trainees.

How common are mental-health difficulties among applied psychologists? This question is paradoxically neglected, perhaps because disclosure and discussion of these experiences remain taboo within the field. This study documented high rates of mental-health difficulties (both diagnosed and undiagnosed) among faculty, graduate students, and others affiliated with accredited doctoral and internship programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. More than 80% of respondents (n = 1,395 of 1,692) reported a lifetime history mental-health difficulties, and nearly half (48%) reported a diagnosed mental disorder. Among those with diagnosed and undiagnosed mental-health difficulties, the most common reported concerns were depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Participants who reported diagnosed mental disorders endorsed, on average, more specific mental-health difficulties and were more likely to report current difficulties than were undiagnosed participants. Graduate students were more likely to endorse both diagnosed and undiagnosed mental-health difficulties than were faculty, and they were more likely to report ongoing difficulties. Overall, rates of mental disorders within clinical, counseling, and school-psychology faculty and trainees were similar to or greater than those observed in the general population. We discuss the implications of these results and suggest specific directions for future research on this heretofore neglected topic.

Suicide attempt survivors' recommendations for improving mental health treatment for attempt survivors.

Research indicates that connection to mental health care services and treatment engagement remain challenges among suicide attempt survivors. One way to improve suicide attempt survivors' experiences with mental health care services is to elicit suggestions directly from attempt survivors regarding how to do so. This study aimed to identify and synthesize suicide attempt survivors' recommendations for how to enhance mental health treatment experiences for attempt survivors. A sample of 329 suicide attempt survivors (81.5% female, 86.0% White/Caucasian, mean age = 35.07 ± 12.18 years) provided responses to an open-ended self-report survey question probing how treatment might be improved for suicide attempt survivors. Responses were analyzed utilizing both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Analyses identified four broad areas in which mental health treatment experiences might be improved for attempt survivors: (a) provider interactions (e.g., by reducing stigma of suicidality, expressing empathy, and using active listening), (b) intake and treatment planning (e.g., by providing a range of treatment options, including nonmedication treatments, and conducting a thorough assessment), (c) treatment delivery (e.g., by addressing root problems, bolstering coping skills, and using trauma-informed care), and (d) structural issues (e.g., by improving access to care and continuity of care). Findings highlight numerous avenues by which health providers might be able to facilitate more positive mental health treatment experiences for suicide attempt survivors. Research is needed to test whether implementing the recommendations offered by attempt survivors in this study might lead to enhanced treatment engagement, retention, and outcomes among suicide attempt survivors at large. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

What's in a word? Clarifying terminology on suicide-related communication.

Efforts to clarify suicide terminology fail to address nuances in suicide-related communication, often relying on poorly-defined terms or implying communication exists primarily as manipulation. In the present paper, we review examples from existing literature and explore how personal suicide-related communication differs from prevention and exposure communication. We also separate definitions for five common types of personal-suicide-related communication: (a) suicide-related disclosure, (b) suicide-related notification, (c) unintended suicide-related communication, (d) coerced suicide-related communication, and (e) conditional suicide-related communication. Finally, we provide specific ways in which standardized definitions can enhance both research and clinical efforts in the future.

Recipients of Suicide-Related Disclosure: The Link between Disclosure and Posttraumatic Growth for Suicide Attempt Survivors.

It is important to explore factors that could help or hinder one's wellbeing following a suicide attempt, which could yield not only negative consequences but also posttraumatic growth (PTG; positive changes following a traumatic event). The present study used a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) to test the relationship between disclosure, PTG, and posttraumatic depreciation among suicide attempt survivors when controlling for time since attempt and to test whether these effects remained after controlling for quality of support from family and friends. Suicide attempt survivors (n = 159) completed an online survey about their experiences. Increases in disclosure to family and friends but not to healthcare providers predicted changes in PTG. The effects of family disclosure remained even after controlling for quality of support. Disclosure to healthcare providers demonstrated some statistical effects on PTG, yet in the opposite direction and only after controlling for quality of support. The control variables-time since attempt and quality of support-were the only variables that predicted a change in posttraumatic depreciation. These findings suggest there is value in disclosing one's personal story to family regardless of whether one receives supportive responses and that social support can impact one's PTG.

PTSD from a suicide attempt: An empirical investigation among suicide attempt survivors.

OBJECTIVES: Suicide attempts (SAs), by definition, represent a risk for serious injury or death; thus, one's SA may contribute to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, empirical data on this topic are lacking. This study aimed to characterize the phenomenology, rate, and associated features of PTSD following one's SA. METHOD: A total of 386 adult SA survivors recruited from web-based sources participated. RESULTS: Overall, 27.5% (95% confidence interval = 23.1-31.9%) of SA survivors screened positive for a probable SA-related PTSD diagnosis. Individuals with a probable SA-related PTSD diagnosis reported greater current suicidal intent than those without this probable diagnosis; this association was significant at low, but not high, levels of depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of SA survivors may experience SA-related PTSD. SA-related PTSD may be a viable assessment and intervention target to improve the quality of life and to reduce future suicide risk among SA survivors.

Exploring lived experience in gender and sexual minority suicide attempt survivors.

Gender and sexual minorities (GSM) are at a higher risk for victimization, discrimination, and emotional distress. GSM also face unique stressors that contribute to negative mental health outcomes, such as family and interpersonal rejection, ostracism and isolation, and internalized gender and sexual stigma. Suicide attempt survivors often experience similar stigma and isolation after an attempt. However, little is known about the specific experiences of GSM individuals who attempt suicide. Transcripts of interviews with 25 GSM attempt survivors conducted as part of the Live Through This project were analyzed using an interpretive phenomenological approach. Five themes that capture the lived experience of suicidality of the participants were identified in the interviews: (a) intersecting identities, (b) identity concealment, (c) internalized stigma and self-hate, (d) the social environment, and (e) the importance of peer support. Findings highlight the compounding stigma that occurs when individuals identify as both a GSM and a suicide attempt survivor. Implications for clinical work include the need for additional peer support for individuals who maintain the dual identity of GSM and suicide attempt survivor. Moreover, there is a need for mental health, crisis, and support resources and services tailored for GSM individuals that emphasize the importance of peer support in healing and recovery after a suicide attempt and in preventing future suicidal behavior. This important information can help us develop strategies to prevent suicide among the GSM population and to provide support for GSM suicide attempt survivors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).