MSU psychologist: Nightmare and suicide research featured during suicide prevention month
by Sam Kealhofer, Intern on the A&S Research Support Team
Highlighting the connection between depression, sleep problems and suicide, Mississippi State University Department of Psychology Associate Professor Michael R. Nadorff has been tapped for many seminars and panel discussions to share his work in an effort to update suicide prevention to our changing times.
Last week, Michael Grander of the University of Arizona hosted Nadorff on the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Essentials series in a seminar called “Nightmares: Causes, Correlates, and Treatments.” During the series, Nadorff discussed his years of study into nightmares and other sleep problems, their connection to suicide, depression and other mental disorders, and new treatment strategies, like a method called Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), which stresses a daily practice of positive visualization to control unwanted dreams.
Nadorff will also partake in the 4th annual Suicide Prevention Symposium on Sept. 29, which is part of a federally funded project enabling the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and Mississippi State University to offer training on youth suicide prevention. During this conference, Nadorff and his colleague Emily Stafford, assistant clinical professor and director of MSU’s Psychology Clinic, will offer “The Alliance Project” training, which provides guidance on how to connect with someone who is suicidal and appropriately refer them for help. The conference will be held online this year and is free to join at www.MississippiSuicidePreventionSymposium.com.
Nadorff, Stafford, and Rachel-Clair Franklin, LPC-S, have taught thousands of parents, caregivers, educators, mental health professionals, and others in Mississippi on how to identify when a person is in distress, make a connection with them, and learn how to help them.
Nadorff and his team have also updated their efforts to share their work during the COVID-19 pandemic by creating a special video edition of the training that is available online. These efforts have proven crucial in times of quarantine, as the YouTube video has over 2,000 views.
In an effort to contribute solutions to the various challenges facing the nation, as well as insight into other points of interest, the College of Arts & Sciences will continue to highlight faculty research in our “Research in the Headlines” series each Monday and Wednesday. For more research in the headlines, visit https://www.cas.msstate.edu/research/researchintheheadlines/; and for information about the College of Arts & Sciences or the Department of Pyschology visit https://www.cas.msstate.edu/ or https://www.psychology.msstate.edu/.