Posted: Monday, April 14, 2014 12:34 am
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Updated: 12:35 am, Mon Apr 14, 2014.
TheDAOnline.com
Students from West Virginia University and surrounding colleges attended the 23rd Annual Tri-State Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference hosted by WVU on Friday. Dr. Holly Wilcox, from Johns Hopkins University, was the keynote speaker and presented on the epidemiology and prevention of suicide in adolescents and young adults.
Students from schools in West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky and Virginia were present at the research conference, and throughout the year, students put together posters and presentations about issues in psychology.
In 2003, Wilcox graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Ph.D. in psychiatric epidemiology. She is currently an associate professor in both the The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Wilcox’s primary interests are the etiology and prevention of suicidal behaviors and mood disorders among young people. Her research focuses on risk for suicide throughout adolescence and into young adulthood. She is currently involved in a large epidemiological study of suicide attempts on young people who are originally recruited in Baltimore in first grade and followed into adulthood.
Wilcox said she finds access to services and defeating the stigma of suicide are the biggest obstacles for suicide prevention.
“If we can reduce stigma for suicide, then that will have a huge impact on young people,” Wilcox said.
Wilcox said making sure the programs are sustainable for suicide prevention is the way these programs can make an impact on the lives of those who may be contemplating suicide.
Jaclynn Stankus, a junior psychology student, attended Wilcox’s presentation.
“I think the topic was important to speak about because our age group, 18-22, is when most mental disabilities and disorders set in,” Stankus said. “It’s one of the biggest instigators of suicide, so talking to our age group to target and implement new ideas and strategies to help prevent suicide is effective.”
Stankus said having Wilcox speak helped relate the talk with the different issues and struggles that students in her age group deal with every day.
By coming to a college town where drinking and drugs can be a common issue, Wilcox’s goal is to enlighten and relieve the struggles of students who feel pressure and other issues.
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Monday, April 14, 2014 12:34 am.
Updated: 12:35 am.
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