Gratitude and suicide risk among college students: Substantiating the protective benefits of being thankful

Objective: Gratitude, or thankfulness for positive aspects of life, is related to psychosocial well-being and decreased psychopathology, and may reduce suicide risk. We explored four potential hypotheses purported to explain the beneficial outcomes of gratitude (schematic, positive affect, broaden-and-build, and coping), hypothesizing that hopelessness (schematic), depression (positive affect), social support (broaden-and-build), and substance use (coping) would mediate the gratitude-suicide linkage. Participants: 913 undergraduate students from a mid-size, southeastern U.S. university. Methods: Respondents completed online self-report questionnaires including the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, Gratitude Questionnaire, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Duke Social Support Index, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and Drug Abuse Screening Test. Results: Supporting theory and hypotheses, gratitude was related to less suicide risk via beneficial associations with hopelessness, depression, social support, and substance misuse. Conclusions: The linkage between gratitude and suicide risk appears to be predicated on the beneficial association of gratitude to negative mood and interpersonal functioning

The Use of Ecomaps to Identify Social Determinants of Mothers With Postpartum Depression in the ETSU Pediatric Clinic

The birth of a child can be a stressful time accompanied by an array of emotions including depression. Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 1 out of 7 new mothers. It can affect a new mother’s sleep, appetite, mood, and bond with her baby, as well as impact child development and well-being, if left untreated. Beginning in March, 2013, ETSU Pediatrics deployed an evidence based screening tool, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), to identify mothers of newborns with PPD. Mothers attending well-visits with their baby from birth to six months of age who score above an eight on the screener are provided with education about PPD, referrals, brief on-site counseling, and phone-call follow- up. Many of these mothers express concerns about resources and social factors that impact their health and mood. An Ecomap is a visual representation of strengths and stressors of a patient’s relationship with their environment, social supports, and resources. The awareness of a patient’s relationships and support within their environment can be useful for assessment of needs and intervention on their behalf. The objective of this study is to pilot the utility of the Ecomap to illuminate common stressors of the social determinants contributing to or exacerbating symptoms of PPD, in order to provide brief solution-focused interventions and referrals to alleviate the stressors. Although Ecomaps have been utilized in clinic settings, there is a lack of research on their effectiveness in identifying social determinants of mothers with PPD. We hypothesized that implementing the Ecomap with mothers that present with an elevated EPDS score will identify a significant number of social determinates that are actionable by social workers on staff. When a mother presented with a score of eight or above on the EPDS administered during a well-child check, the social work staff completed an Ecomap with mothers via a warm handoff. The social determinants identified on the Ecomaps were then categorized and counted to determine biggest social needs of mothers at the ETSU Pediatric clinic from 11/13/2015 through 02/28/2016. The clinic completed 27 ecomaps with mothers who scored 7 or above at well child checks. Transportation and mental health services presented as the most common domains that social work was able to effectively act to rectify. Overall, the utilization of the Ecomap was successful in identifying social determinants contributing to or exacerbating symptoms of PPD. Addressing these stressors through resource allocation and brief solution-focused therapies may contribute to a reduction of PPD symptoms. Future research, therefore, should examine whether addressing these social stressors reduces symptoms of PPD above and beyond targeting depressive symptoms alone in mothers presenting at pediatric clinics

Applied Resiliency and Suicide Prevention: a Strengths-based, Risk- Reduction Framework

Book Summary: This inspiring resource presents theories, findings, and interventions from Positive Suicidology, an emerging strengths-based approach to suicide prevention. Its synthesis of positive psychology and suicidology theories offers a science-based framework for promoting wellbeing to complement or, if appropriate, replace traditional deficit-driven theories and therapies used in reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Coverage reviews interpersonal, intrapersonal, and societal risk factors for suicide, and identifies protective factors, such as hope and resilience, that can be enhanced in therapy. From there, chapters detail a palette of approaches and applications of Positive Suicidology, from the powerful motivating forces described in Self-Determination Theory to meaning-building physical and social activities. Among the topics covered: Future-oriented constructs and their role in suicidal ideation and enactment. Gratitude as a protective factor for suicidal ideation and behavior: theory and evidence. Considering race and ethnicity in the use of positive psychological approaches to suicide. The Six R’s framework as mindfulness for suicide prevention. Community-based participatory research and empowerment for suicide prevention. Applied resiliency and suicide prevention: a strengths-based, risk-reduction framework. Psychotherapists, counselors, social workers, psychiatrists, and health psychologists, as well as educators, clergy and healthcare professionals, will find A Positive Psychological Approach to Suicide an invaluable source of contemporary evidence-based strategies for their prevention and intervention efforts with suicidal clients