NSU Psychology Double Alumnus Shares Suicide Prevention Tips in Coalition with September’s National Suicide Awareness Campaign
Mark DeSantis, M.S., Psy.D. has garnered the reputation of being known as a “double shark” through his education at NSU. He earned his master’s degree in counseling and clinical psychology and graduated in 2001 with a Psy.D. in the Clinical Psychology program. During DeSantis’ Psy.D. program, he studied neuropsychology and behavioral medicine with adults and pediatrics specialty.
DeSantis recently retired from the office of Veterans Affairs as a Suicide Prevention Coordinator after being a part of the program for 12 years. Now he works as an independent consultant for suicide prevention and assists with local law enforcement. During his time with the VA, DeSantis was awarded the Secretary of Health Award for Outstanding Community Outreach in 2017. This award is given yearly and only three applicants are chosen out of the VA for their unique impact within the community. Alongside receiving his award, DeSantis’ suicide prevention outreach program in the VA was also selected to be distributed nationally by the Secretary of Health.
“It’s important to be educated, even at the classroom level on all aspects related to suicide. Your job is to help the individuals who work with you and people in the community. Guidance overall is part of an administrator’s position,” said Dr. DeSantis.
In addition to his time with the VA, DeSantis has presented at many conferences such as the Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention Conference, the U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress, and many more. Likewise, he was a faculty member at multiple universities and taught as an adjunct professor at NSU’s College of Psychology.
“NSU had wonderful professors, and they’re all very personable and some became my mentors throughout the program. It prepared you because there so much diversification,” he said. “Specializing in areas is where I thought the program really excelled. Plus, teaching at the university opened up doors at different schools.”
From being in the mental health field since his start at NSU, DeSantis created his legacy on dealing with situations pertaining to suicide. It is important to be cognizant of tell-tale signs for individuals who are suicidal. One tip that DeSantis always advises to do is to ask about suicide.
“Look for the warning signs – initially someone may deny it, but if they’re going through difficult times, those are the kind of things you want to look out for. Meanwhile with children, they won’t always show the same signs normally, instead they will appear as irritable,” expressed DeSantis.
He also recommended talking with a loved one because relationship building is key when conversing with someone who may be suicidal. Whether it’s asking someone what’s on their mind or asking how much sleep they’ve been getting, it’s key to negate away from statements that may inhibit them from being honest with you. DeSantis advocated for people to ask questions and wants them to have conversation, not an interrogation.
“CDC reports death rates annually and since the 1920s, suicides have been continually increasing. These rates matter because populations are always increasing. Suicides are the 10th leading cause of death in this country and with 18-30-year-olds, it’s the second leading cause of death,” he said.
According to DeSantis, mental health is important no matter the time, and with September being Suicide Awareness month, knowing the signs and aiding those around you can make an even bigger impact. Furthermore, DeSantis’ biggest takeaway from his time at NSU and his career in suicide prevention was understanding that everything is a learning experience.
The final words of advice he shared were, “Keep your mind and heart open, observe everything and never stop learning. You continue to learn and never stop learning to help others in your life.”