Julie Cerel

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Julie Cerel is a clinical psychologist known for her contributions to the field of suicidology, including suicide exposure, prevention and bereavement. [1] She currently serves as a Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky, where she holds the Wilson Professorship of Mental Health. [2] Cerel is also the director of the Suicide Prevention & Exposure Lab (SPEL) at the University of Kentucky. [3]

Contents

Education

Cerel earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the Ohio State University. She completed her internship and post-doctoral fellowship in child clinical psychology at West Virginia University, followed by a specialized post-doctoral fellowship in suicide prevention at the University of Rochester. Her undergraduate degree is from Kenyon College, where she earned an honorary Ph.D. In 2023. [4]

Career

Cerel's research focuses on suicide exposure, bereavement and the experiences of suicide attempt survivors. The #not6 campaign, which she contributed to, argues against the concept that each suicide affects only six people, and that the impact extends to approximately 135 individuals. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Cerel served as the President of the American Association of Suicidology from 2017–2019. In 2023, she was elected as a fellow of the American Psychological Association in recognition of her contributions to the field. [9] She has authored over one hundred peer reviewed academic publications and co-authored Seeking Hope: Stories of the Suicide Bereaved. [10]

Grants

Cerel's research has been supported by various organizations, including the Military Suicide Research Consortium from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), [11] the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), [12] the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

References

  1. "Julie Cerel". University of Kentucky. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  2. Staff, CoSW (2020-05-22). "Dr. Julie Cerel Receives Engagement Award for Suicide Survivors, Research". University of Kentucky College of Social Work. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  3. "College of Social Work Launches Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab | UK Research". research.uky.edu. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  4. "Honors Day 2023 Remarks". Kenyon College. 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  5. Cerel, Julie; Brown, Margaret M.; Maple, Myfanwy; Singleton, Michael; Van De Venne, Judy; Moore, Melinda; Flaherty, Chris (2019). "How Many People Are Exposed to Suicide? Not Six" . Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. 49 (2): 529–534. doi:10.1111/sltb.12450. PMID   29512876.
  6. "Six Questions with Social Work's Julie Cerel | UK Research". research.uky.edu. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  7. Piercy, Lindsey (2019-03-04). "Continuing the Conversation: Q&A With Suicidologist Julie Cerel". UKNow. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  8. Staff, CoSW (2024-03-07). "More than 40% of Americans know someone who died from drug overdose, UK researcher finds". University of Kentucky College of Social Work. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  9. "The impact of suicide in the community - 1 CE Hour". Center for Prolonged Grief. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  10. Linn-Gust, Michelle (2011). Seeking Hope: Stories of the Suicide Bereaved. Chellehead Works. ISBN   978-0972331845.
  11. "Surviving Suicide: Convening Lived-Experience & Research to Improve Patient-Centered Outcomes | PCORI". www.pcori.org. 2020-06-01. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  12. "Research, Practice, and Data Informed Investigations of Child and Youth Suicide: A Science to Service and Service to Science Approach". National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Archived from the original on 2023-07-11. Retrieved 2026-02-05.