Uncovering Hidden Stories: Psychological Autopsies and Suicide Prevention in Middle Aged Adults with Dr. Eva De Jaegere | Ep. 148

Reflecting on my recent conversation with Dr. Eva De Jaegere from the Flemish Center of Expertise in Suicide Prevention, I am reminded just how vital it is to fully appreciate the stories behind suicide statistics. Even as someone who has spent decades in suicide prevention, I continually find that the most nuanced insights often come from those left behind, the loved ones willing to share their perspectives, pain, and wisdom during the profound process of a psychological autopsy. When we listen deeply, it becomes clear that suicide is rarely the result of a single cause, but a complex tapestry of lived experiences, expectations, and sometimes subtle warning signs.

What struck me most from Dr. Eva’s research was the discovery that certain drivers of suicide risk, especially in middle-aged adults, often occur outside the traditional mental health space. Her findings highlighted how anticipated financial difficulties and work-related stressors loomed large in the stories of those who died by suicide, whereas those who survived tended to have more open conversations about their suffering and were more likely to seek support for both physical and mental health challenges. This underscores the need for us to expand the reach of prevention beyond clinicians, embedding suicide prevention skills and conversations into workplaces and community settings where distress often manifests first.

Dr. Eva’s research not only reinforced the power of asking, listening, and learning from the people closest to these tragedies, but also called us to a collective responsibility. Suicide prevention truly is everyone’s business, and the more we engage peers, colleagues, and families to recognize distress and start those sometimes uncomfortable conversations, the better chance we have to save lives. I am grateful for the courage of all who shared their stories and for the reminder that healing and prevention begin with compassionate listening.

Bio

Eva De Jaegere, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and works as the research coordinator at the Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention at Ghent University, Belgium. She coordinates and conducts studies aligned with the Flemish Action Plan on Suicide Prevention, including the Insight Study, which examines risk and protective factors for suicide in middle-aged individuals. Her work focuses mainly on the development and effectiveness of interventions for suicide prevention, with a particular emphasis on e-mental health interventions. She regards it as important to conduct practical research that remains close to real-world conditions and values a collaborative approach, working closely with individuals with lived experience, multidisciplinary teams, and other stakeholders to ensure interventions are relevant, impactful, and feasible for implementation.

Takeaways

  • Addressing hidden risks, not only visible ones, is essential to suicide prevention. 

  • Prevention begins with listening as every story uncovers a path to saving lives.

Show Notes