‘Behind the Blue’: Continuing the mental health conversation on World Suicide Prevention Day

Every year, on Sept. 10, World Suicide Prevention Day renews our commitment to addressing the growing mental health crisis affecting millions around the globe.

Established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO), World Suicide Prevention Day aims to raise awareness about the prevalence of suicide, promote effective prevention strategies and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

The day has grown significantly in scope and impact over the years — reflecting a broader recognition of suicide as a critical public health issue that requires universal attention and efforts.

According to WHO, an estimated 703,000 people die by suicide each year. And for every person who dies by suicide, there are many more who attempt it or experience suicidal thoughts.

This year’s theme, “Building Hope Through Action,” emphasizes the importance of collective efforts in creating a supportive environment for those struggling with suicidal thoughts.

The University of Kentucky is committed to championing the conversation surrounding mental health and well-being. In doing so, the latest episode of “Behind the Blue” features conversations with key mental health advocates at UK.

Together, along with various UK community members, they play pivotal roles in spreading awareness and providing lifesaving resources across the Commonwealth.

Julie Cerel, Ph.D., a professor in the College of Social Work and expert in suicidology, conducts research centered on suicide prevention and its impacts. “There’s still a lot of stigma,” she said. “So, being able to have these conversations allows others to know — they are not alone.”

In the podcast, Cerel and Avery Powers, a criminal justice, psychology and social work student, discuss their work with the Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab. Their efforts focus on suicide prevention and help raise awareness and support for those impacted.

“In Kentucky, we lose almost 800 people a year to suicide. So, throughout my career, I've been focused on suicide prevention, but also in this idea that every suicide leaves behind a broad range of people,” Cerel explained. “For everyone that dies by suicide, about 135 people are left behind. The lab looks closer at suicide post-function, which is helping people after someone has died.”

The second portion of “Behind the Blue” includes a conversation with Jenni Jinright, director of the Healthy Initiative Program with UK HealthCare, who highlights the significance of community-based wellness and prevention efforts.

“Where you live, learn, work, play, impact your ability to live your healthiest life,” she said. “Our team works outside of direct patient care in the community to increase wellness and prevention. We do a lot of health promotion and awareness, help create resources and increase access to tools and programming in support of whole person health.”

Through a collaboration with the College of Social Work and the College of Communication and Information, they are working to raise awareness about the online QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training, which is free to those living in Kentucky.

QPR training is a widely recognized approach to suicide prevention — designed to equip individuals with the skills to recognize and respond to signs of suicidal behavior.

The training focuses on teaching participants how to ask someone directly about suicidal thoughts (Question), persuade them to seek help or stay safe (Persuade) and refer them to appropriate resources or professionals (Refer).

By emphasizing these critical steps, QPR training aims to increase awareness and preparedness among community members — enabling them to provide timely and effective support to those in crisis. This proactive approach helps bridge the gap between those in need and the professional help required to prevent suicide.

“Think of QPR as CPR for suicidal ideation. It really addresses those misconceptions about suicide, including, you do not need to be a medical or mental health professional to help during a mental health crisis,” Jinright said. “One thing I really like about the training is, it empowers everyone to really pay attention to the people around them and to recognize and respond to those in need.”

The QPR training, which takes less than an hour and is entirely free, can be accessed here.

Additionally, if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, there is help available. You can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 988. This summer, UK HealthCare opened up the state’s first EmPATH emergency psychiatric unit on the campus of Eastern State Hospital, which provides immediate support for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.

If you are a UK student, the TRACS (Triage, Referral, Assistance and Crisis Support) hub, in the Office for Student Success, is a physical and virtual one-stop shop where students can come for a quick referral to support services or receive direct clinical support for a range of mental health needs, basic needs and crises. You can show up in-person (third floor, east wing of the Gatton Student Center), call 859-21TRACS (859-218-7227) or fill out this form for assistance.

About “Behind the Blue”

“Behind the Blue” is available on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

Transcripts for this or other episodes of “Behind the Blue” can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.