Rachael Flatt, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Why is this work meaningful for you?

I help trainees understand suicide risk assessments, safety planning and crisis interventions. I also implement those skills in my own work. Not only am I more confident and effective in navigating mental health crises among student-athletes, but I’m also really proud that the up-and-coming clinicians feel the same after our training and supervision.

How does your passion translate into your work?

One of my passions is working with athletic populations. Many psychologists and therapists who work with athletes primarily focus on mental performance rather than underlying psychiatric concerns. My desire is to develop an expertise in crisis interventions to help reduce the risk of suicide in athletes. In their most difficult moments, I strive to ensure athletes receive the compassionate clinical care they need.

What motivates you to help SPI make an impact?

Our impact is not just limited to athletes and suicide. Deaths in children and adolescents due to firearms has doubled in the past few years. This speaks to the importance of safe storage and the role that the Suicide Prevention Institute plays in firearm safety education and distribution of gun locks. Our mission is unique in part because we bring together an array of stakeholders across multiple settings. It ensures that we address underlying concerns through a multidisciplinary lens while advocating for and implementing evidence-based solutions.

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