After 43 years of working in suicidology, I find myself with mixed feelings on World Suicide Prevention Day. While undeniable progress has been made over my four decades, rates of suicide are too… | Dave Jobes | 11 comments

After 43 years of working in suicidology, I find myself with mixed feelings on World Suicide Prevention Day. While undeniable progress has been made over my four decades, rates of suicide are too high. I think about the hundreds of patients I have seen over the years and I still reflect on the person I lost during my clinical internship. I think about the 1600+ partipants we have treated in our clinical trial research over 30 years. And with a heavy heart I mourn the 5 we lost despite our best efforts. I think about all those who have lost someone to suicide—I am mindful every day of the toll on loss-survivors. I think anout our research with those who have lived experience and I am grateful for lessons learned from them. But lately, more than anything, I think about the 16,900,000 American adults and teens who are still with us but have serious thoughts of suicide (SAMHSA, 2025). Moreover, if these suffering souls muster the courage to seek care, they should receive evidence-based, suicide-focused, clinical care. However, far too often such people encounter clinician-centered care that relies on a carceral and non-evidence based approach with providers who are too preoccupied with liability instead of effective care. While there are always exceptions, peopje who suffer with thoughts of suicide and seek care too often deserve much better than they get. We simply must do better. Those who suffer—and those who love them—should expect nothing less than care that is actually reduces suffering which might help save a life. Such are my musings today… | 11 comments on LinkedIn