Suicide Disclosure & Family Navigation Lab
The Suicide Disclosure & Family Navigation (SDFN) Lab is led by Dr. Frey and focuses on (1) understanding suicide-related disclosure and examining factors that inhibit or promote individuals sharing suicidal thoughts when they occur, and (2) examining the role of family relationships in the disclosure process, both in families create a safe environment for disclosure and how members might react to disclosure and how those reactions might encourage professional help-seeking. Below, we provide an overview of our current projects and team members.
Current Projects
Parental Expressed Emotion & Suicide-Related Disclosure in Suicidal Adolescents. This study is funded by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention through a Young Investigator Grant to explore how family dynamics and stigma affect adolescents' willingness both to disclose suicidal ideation and behavior and to seek treatment. Adolescents with suicidal ideation are recruited from a local children's hospital. Both adolescents and at least one parent separately complete surveys and interviews. Follow-ups are completed 2- and 4-months later. Findings from this study will be used to enhance interventions to create a safe family environment for disclosure and treatment of suicidal ideation and behavior.