SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

NSU Is Home to Two Experts Who Can Help Media Working Related Stories

FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – Recent statistics show that every 12.95 minutes in the United States someone dies from suicide. It’s estimated that every year, nearly 1 million Americans attempt suicide, and more than 40,000 die annually by taking their own life. It’s the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States.

Those are truly sobering statistics – and why it’s important that everyone be aware of the warning signs that someone they know and love may be having some trouble, and they need help. To that end, September has been designated National Suicide Prevention Month. For media working related stories. Nova Southeastern University is home to subject matter experts in the areas of suicide awareness and prevention.

Douglas Flemons, Ph.D. Nova Southeastern University

Douglas Flemons, Ph.D.
Professor, Family Therapy
NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Co-Director of the NSU Office of Suicide and Violence Prevention
Department of Family Therapy

Douglas Flemons, Ph.D., graduated from Simon Fraser University in 1981 with a bachelor’s in general studies. He returned to school in 1984 to study family therapy at the University of British Columbia, where he earned his master’s degree in counseling psychology. He then left to earn a doctorate at the Texas Tech University.

Today, Flemons is professor of family therapy, clinical professor of family medicine, and co-director of the NSU Office of Suicide and Violence Prevention. Author of books on writing (Writing Between the Lines), hypnosis and therapy (Of One Mind), psychotherapy and Eastern philosophy (Completing Distinctions), and suicide assessment (Relational Suicide Assessment, co-authored with Dr. Len Gralnik), he is also co-editor, with his wife and colleague, Dr. Shelley Green, of a book on brief sex therapy (Quickies). Flemons maintains a private practice in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and presents widely on hypnosis, psychotherapy, sexuality, suicide, writing, and other topics.

Scott Poland, Ed.D. Nova Southeastern University

Scott Poland, Ed.D., Professor
NSU’s College of Psychology
Co-Director of the NSU Office of Suicide and Violence Prevention

Scott Poland, Ed.D., is a nationally recognized expert on school crisis, youth violence, suicide intervention, self-injury, school safety, threat assessment, parenting and the delivery of psychological services in schools. He is a founding member of the National Emergency Assistance Team for the National Association of School Psychologists and serves as the Prevention Director for the American Association of Suicidology. He has led multiple national crisis teams following numerous school shootings and suicides and has assisted schools and communities after terrorism acts in New York, Washington, D.C. and Oklahoma. Poland served as the team leader of the crisis response team sent to Jefferson County Public Schools during the aftermath of the Columbine High School shootings.

Poland is a Past President of the National Association of School Psychologists and was the Director of Psychological Services (1982-2005) for a large Texas school district that received numerous state and national awards for its exemplary psychological services. He has received many individual honors including being named a finalist for the national school psychologist of the year, named the most outstanding school psychologist in Texas twice and named most outstanding psychologist in Texas. He also received the Houston Wage Peace Award.

September 22, 2015

Joe Donzelli | Office of Public Affairs
954-262-2159 (office) |954-661-4571 (cell)
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