Simple things that save lives

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15-24. It takes a life every 15 minutes.

M. David Rudd (pictured above), noted author, award-winning researcher, and expert in suicide prevention, visits Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh on Thursday, October 20, for a presentation on the issue of suicide in American society.

His talk, “Simple Things That Save Lives: Suicide Prevention among Friends and Families,” will be held 7 pm in Aquinas Hall Room 216. It is free and open to the public.

Rudd will describe the recognizable warning signs of suicide, as well as a simple model for how to intervene in crises. Suicide is, more often than not, a problem embedded in relationships.

When people are isolated and detached, treatable health problems and emotional pain are exacerbated and compounded, sometimes to the point of suicide. Rudd’s presentation will illustrate the roles that everyone can play in helping those struggling to find a life worth living.

Rudd is the dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Utah. He is a fellow of the International Association of Suicide Research and was recently elected a Distinguished Practitioner and Scholar of the National Academies of Practice in Psychology.

Rudd is an active researcher and author of more than 170 publications, including The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, Treating Suicidal Behavior, and several other books on suicide. His research has been recognized with awards both national and international.

“Simple Things That Save Lives” is part of Mount Saint Mary College’s Out of the Darkness suicide prevention initiative and is co-sponsored by Curtin Memorial Library, the Counseling Center, the nursing department, the psychology club, and the nursing student union at the Mount.