“Talking about suicide puts the idea in someone’s mind.”
This belief can make people avoid the subject, change the words, or wait until someone else begins the conversation. William studied why that silence can become another barrier to support.
Research, writing, and community action
Research can make difficult conversations easier.
I am William Brewer. My internship focused on a question that stops many people from speaking up: Does talking about suicide put the idea in someone’s mind? The studies I reviewed point toward a clearer message. Careful, respectful conversations can reduce stigma and make it easier to connect with support.
William's challenge for every reader
Your HW Assignment
Talk to one person today about suicide. Tell them it is okay to talk about suicide. Ask them to tell one other person that it is okay to talk about suicide. Extra credit: do this once a week.
The research focus
One question led to the whole project.
William’s work examined a common fear about suicide prevention and followed the evidence into research writing, middle-school communication, community involvement, and public education.
Careful, direct questions do not create suicidal thoughts.
The studies William reviewed support respectful language, listening without judgment, and a clear path to trusted adults or crisis resources. The goal is not to turn students into counselors. The goal is to make it easier to notice concern and involve help.
The internship pathway
From a literature search to a developing paper.
Each assignment moved the project forward. The work began with reading research and developed into evidence-based writing for school and public audiences.
01
Preliminary Literature Review
Reviewed five initial studies, recorded their central findings, and built a Big Ideas summary focused on direct conversation, stigma, resilience, help-seeking, and being heard.
02
AMLE and Middle School Journal Fit Scan
Considered how research could be explained clearly and responsibly for middle-school educators, young adolescents, and school communities.
03
Introduction Thinking Exercise
Organized the opening of a research paper around three questions: Why does this topic matter? What does the research say? Why was the study needed?
04
Research Question, Null Hypothesis, and Next Readings
Refined the research question, practiced cautious research language, considered the null hypothesis, and identified additional evidence needed to support the developing paper.
Where the work led
William’s ideas and source work helped move the project from early research notes toward a
developing middle-school manuscript, public communication, webpage development, and presentation
preparation.
Research paper in progress
The paper I contributed to is being prepared for publication.
My internship work helped support a two-school research paper about middle school students' suicide-prevention readiness. The paper is currently being prepared for publication, and a public link will be added here as soon as it becomes available.
What we found
The evaluation included 162 students from two middle schools located in separate rural school districts in the Mountain West.
80.5%
positive readiness
Willingness to call or text 988
128 of 159 valid paired responses improved or were already at the highest response level.
78.8%
positive readiness
Knowing what 988 is and how to use it
126 of 160 valid paired responses improved or were already at the highest response level.
68.3%
positive readiness
Comfort asking a friend directly about suicide
110 of 161 valid paired responses improved or were already at the highest response level.
How to read these numbers:
The upper category includes students who reported a higher response after training and students who
were already at Strongly Agree and remained there. These are immediate, student-reported readiness
patterns. They do not prove later behavior change or reduced suicide risk.
Research in the community
Prevention also happens where young people gather.
William’s internship included community-facing work that connected research with youth, families, mentors, sport, and practical mental-health education.
LaCROSSe Out Violence & Suicide
William was a key intern contributor to this youth-centered event, which brought together about 250 young people for lacrosse clinics, a youth tournament, movement-based mental-health learning, and community resources. The event connected physical activity with resilience, healthy relationships, stress management, stigma reduction, and clear messages that asking for help is a strength.
His involvement showed how research can move beyond a paper and become part of a public conversation that young people and families can actually use.
Youth sport
Mental-health education
Community connection
Resilience
Learn about the event
William’s public assignment
Your HW Assignment
This is a small action, but small actions can make a difficult subject easier to discuss.
Talk with one person today about suicide.
Tell them that it is okay to talk about suicide openly, carefully, and without judgment.
Ask that person to tell one other person.
Help the message travel: it is okay to talk about suicide, and asking for support is a strength.
Extra credit
Complete the assignment once a week and keep the conversation going.
Keep the boundary clear:
This assignment is about reducing stigma, not asking anyone to manage a crisis. If someone says they
may be in immediate danger, stay connected, involve a trusted adult, and contact 988 or 911.
Turn in your assignment
Use the form below to explain how you completed the assignment. William will review your response and send you your grade.
Support resources
Help should be easy to find.
These national resources are available to people seeking crisis support, treatment information, education, or guidance for helping someone else.
Crisis support
Open 988 Lifeline
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 in the United States, or use the official Lifeline website.
Treatment information
Open SAMHSA Helpline
SAMHSA National Helpline
Find confidential information and treatment referral resources.
Information and support
Open NAMI HelpLine
NAMI HelpLine
Access mental-health information, resource guidance, and support options.
Immediate emergency
Call 911
Call 911
For an immediate life-threatening emergency, contact emergency services.
