Social Connection and Support as Targets for Youth Suicide Prevention

Cheryl King, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Youth Depression and Suicide Prevention Program at the University of Michigan. A clinical psychologist, educator and research mentor, Dr. King has served as Director of Psychology Training and Chief Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry, and she has twice received the Teacher of the Year Award in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Her research focuses on the development of culturally tailored and evidence-based practices for youth suicide risk screening, assessment, and intervention. She has provided leadership for multiple federally funded research projects, including the Youth-Nominated Support Team Intervention for Suicidal Adolescents, Emergency Department Screen for Teens at Risk for Suicide, and 24-Hour Risk for Suicide Attempts in a National Cohort of Adolescents. In addition, Dr. King has provided testimony in the U.S. Senate on youth suicide prevention and served as a member of the National Advisory Mental Health Council (NIMH Council). She is a Past President of the American Association of Suicidology, the Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers, and the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.