Deployment Psychology Blog

Suicide is a serious public health concern, especially for young adults who have experienced trauma. While a history of trauma can be a risk factor for suicide, we have a limited understanding of the specific mechanisms through which stress responses might contribute to this heightened risk. In a recent study, my colleagues and I investigated the links between suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and how individuals respond emotionally and physically to stress.

This summer I had the incredible opportunity to step into three different professional roles to gain insight into what it means to be a psychologist for the military. My name is Harmony and I am a high school senior from Oklahoma with a deep interest in Psychology. I hope to earn a Ph.D. in psychology, and after that, I want to focus on forensic psychology. Over the summer, I worked closely with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP), served as a junior teaching assistant (TA) for Dr. Patrick DeLeon’s public policy class, and volunteered at the Verizon Youth summer program, all while touring colleges in preparation for fall applications.