Preferred Name
Kacey Wilson
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Date of Graduation
8-12-2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Department of Graduate Psychology
Advisor(s)
Anne Stewart
Robin Anderson
Elena Savina
Abstract
This dissertation introduces the S9 Model of Suicidality, an innovative framework for conceptualizing and understanding suicidality among college students. The S9 Model integrates biological, psychological, ecological, and sociocultural dimensions of suicidality into a comprehensive approach to help inform prevention, intervention, and postvention on college campuses. Drawing from empirical research, the history of suicidology, relevant psychological theories, and insights from mental health practitioners, this model encapsulates a holistic view of suicidality, considering key factors like genetic predispositions, neurobiological processes, cognitive function, psychosocial stressors, cultural norms, societal expectations, and broader ecological contexts.
The model’s tripartite approach, focusing on the ontological, ecological, and phenomenological spheres, aids in understanding the progression of vulnerabilities (risks) and buffers (protections) in suicidality. The proposed S9 Model offers an integrative framework that identifies risk, as well as protective factors, along with key assessment considerations derived from several theoretical frameworks, including attachment, behavioral, cognitive, developmental, ecological, and evolutionary theories of suicide. By synthesizing diverse aspects of suicidality, the S9 Model serves as a shared platform promoting interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals. The model is poised to facilitate the development of comprehensive strategies to combat the escalating mental health crisis among college students in an evolving global context.
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Katherine C., "The S9 model: A comprehensive framework for conceptualizing student suicidality" (2023). Dissertations, 2020-current. 100.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/diss202029/100
