Suicide Prevention: The Role of Firearm Access
by Dr. Paul Nestadt

Paul Nestadt is the James Wah Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Medical Director of the Center for Suicide Prevention in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. As a clinician, Dr. Nestadt attends on the inpatient dual diagnosis unit at Hopkins, directs the Anxiety Disorders consultation clinic, and helped found the esketamine clinic at Hopkins. His research into suicide prevention centers the roles of firearms, opioids, and large scale data analysis as well as qualitative interviews with grieving families.  Dr. Nestadt is the chair of Maryland’s Suicide Fatality Review Committee and has written dozens of chapters for leading psychiatric and medical textbooks, ~ 100 peer-reviewed papers, and has spoken nationally and internationally on the topics of suicide risk and the role of firearms, opiates, and the limitations of screening.
Research Connection

The more we understand about suicide, the more we can prevent it. AFSP-funded research is essential to our mission of saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. Our research funding goes toward studies from neurobiological, psychosocial, and genetic perspectives, as well as topics including clinical treatment, community intervention, and survivors of suicide loss. Our grants help sponsor young investigators, engage senior researchers in suicide prevention, and foster new ideas from suicide researchers at all levels to build a scientific community. 

We believe it is important to share our findings to increase public knowledge and awareness. Join us for an AFSP Research Connection Program, where you will have the opportunity to engage in a conversation with a researcher about their work and about suicide prevention.

Learn more at afsp.org/research. 

Watch video interviews of experts from around the world as they discuss their work and the future of suicide prevention research here.