Summary
Meet CSI:OPIOIDs Team Member, Carla Stumpf Patton!
Hi, Carla! Tell us about yourself!
I’m Dr. Carla Stumpf Patton, VP of Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention at Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
What is your professional background or personal connection to this work. Why are you interested in this study?
By trade, I am a mental health clinician focusing in the areas of suicide, trauma, and bereavement; I am dedicated to this work due to my personal experiences from being a long-term, military suicide loss survivor, which is why I do the work I do. I am interested in this study as it will help identify how effective and safe pain management treatment plans before an emotional or suicide crisis occurs, can contribute to future prevention efforts.
What ideas do you have that might help us think about suicide and how to prevent it? Is there a special resource or place to learn more about these ideas?
Studies such as this are illuminating the issue of suicide and opening up opportunities for conversations that have historically been surrounded by silence and stigma. For those who have been personally impacted by suicide, this also offers an opportunity for individuals to courageously share their own experiences—or that of their loved ones—where we can learn more as how to reduce suicide risk by improving delivery of care, medical services, and safer treatment options.
What do you think people in our society might need to learn at this time about pain and its care?
It is important for society to recognize that suicide is complex and often results from many contributing factors—both physical and psychological. Issues such as chronic pain are among the significant risk factors, especially when individuals coping with debilitating, enduring pain may not see effective solutions. By proactively addressing the area of effective and safe pain management, it can be a key area to reduce suicide risk, as it offers hopeful, solution-focused strategies that help to either safely manage or mitigate symptoms of pain.
