Why People Die by Suicide – Dr Thomas Joiner

In his new theory of suicidal behavior, Thomas Joiner proposes three factors that mark those most at risk of death: the feeling of being a burden on loved ones; the sense of isolation; and, perhaps chillingly, the learned ability to hurt oneself. He tests the theory against diverse facts taken from clinical anecdotes, history, literature, popular culture, anthropology, epidemiology, genetics, and neurobiology–facts about suicide rates among men and women; white and African-American men; individuals with anorexia, athletes, and physicians; members of cults, sports fans, and citizens of nations in crisis.

Learning Objectives

To review basic facts about the epidemiology and risk factors for death by suicide.
To learn about a new theory of suicidal behavior.
To learn about anecdotal, clinical, and scientific evidence that evaluates this new theory.
To learn about approaches to suicide risk assessment.
To learn about developments in the treatment of suicidal behavior.
To learn about developments in suicide prevention.
To understand the experience of people who are bereaved by suicide.

About the Speaker

Thomas Joiner went to college at Princeton and received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He is The Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology at Florida State University (FSU). Dr. Joiner’s work is on the psychology, neurobiology, and treatment of suicidal behavior and related conditions. Author of over 750 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Joiner is the Editor-in-Chief of the journalSuicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, and was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship. He received the Dublin Award for career achievement in suicide research from the American Association of Suicidology, as well as research grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and Department of Defense (DoD). The Lawton Professorship and the Dublin Award are the single highest honors bestowed, respectively, by FSU and the American Association of Suicidology. In 2017, he was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and in 2019, was given the 2020 James McKeen Cattell Award for lifetime contributions to the area of applied psychological research from the Association for Psychological Science.

He is a consultant to NASA’s Human Research Program, and is the Director of the DoD-funded Military Suicide Research Consortium, a ten-year, $70 million dollar project.

Dr. Joiner has authored or edited eighteen books, including Why People Die By Suicide, published in 2005 by Harvard University Press, and Myths About Suicide, published in 2010, also with Harvard University Press. The book Mindlessness: The Corruption of Mindfulness in a Culture of Narcissism, came out in 2017, from Oxford. Largely in connection with Why People Die By Suicide, he has made numerous media appearances, including two appearances on the Dr. Phil Show. He runs a part-time clinical and consulting practice specializing in, among other topics, suicidal behavior, including legal consultation on suits involving death by suicide.

CPD/CE

CPD & CE credits available: 3

NBCC credits available: 3

How do I receive these credits?

The participant must pass the multiple-choice test with a minimum score of 80%. There is a maximum of three attempts to achieve this.

The post-test is included in the price of the training.

Does my regulatory body accept the credits?

The CPD & CE credits awarded can be used towards your declaration to any governing regulatory body in your state or country, provided the content is relevant to your discipline.

Our trainings are accredited by:

– The CPD Group, London
– Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
– Australian Counselling Association