Who is Julie Cerel? UK Professor Wins Global Award for Suicide Bereavement Research

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 15, 2025) – Dr. Julie Cerel, a professor at the University of Kentucky’s College of Social Work, has won a prestigious international award for her work in suicide prevention and bereavement.

She received the Norman Farberow Award for Bereavement and Lived Experience from the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). The award was given at the 33rd World Congress held in Vienna, Austria.

Why Julie Cerel Was Honored

Dr. Cerel is a licensed clinical psychologist and one of the top experts in suicide bereavement. Her work focuses on the people who are left behind after someone dies by suicide. This includes family, friends, and entire communities.

She found through research that almost half of Americans know someone who died by suicide. Around one-third said it had a deep personal impact on them.

Cerel has spent her career working to improve postvention—the care given after a suicide occurs. Her goal is to support those who are grieving and stop the ripple effect that can cause more harm.

Leading Suicide Prevention Research

Dr. Cerel leads the Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab (SPEL) at the University of Kentucky. She has written over 120 academic papers, with 80 focused on suicide and its impact on people.

Her work has changed the way the world sees suicide grief. Instead of just helping the closest family, she promotes support for everyone affected—friends, co-workers, classmates, and more.

“Losing someone to suicide doesn’t just affect the family. It affects entire communities. And without support, it increases risk for others,” Cerel said.

CODE RED: A New Way to Stay Safe

Cerel and her team also created CODE RED Universal Safety Planning. It’s a new approach to mental health safety planning.

The idea: everyone should have a personal safety plan for when life feels overwhelming.

So far, more than 1,000 people in Kentucky have created safety plans through this program. It’s being used in middle and high schools across the state as part of the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention initiative.

These plans are personal and change over time. People are encouraged to update them regularly, just like a living document for their mental wellness.

Global Impact of Her Work

Cerel says postvention still doesn’t get enough attention or funding, especially in the United States.

But that’s starting to change. Her award shows that the world is recognizing how important it is to support those left behind after a suicide.

She hopes her work helps people keep a healthy connection with the person they lost—without losing themselves in grief.

“We want people to remember their loved one, but not lose their way,” Cerel explained.

About Dr. Julie Cerel

• Position: Professor at University of Kentucky, College of Social Work

• Specialty: Suicide prevention, bereavement, exposure, mental health research

• Lab Director: Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab (SPEL)

• Award: Norman Farberow Award, IASP 2025

• Location of Award: Vienna, Austria

• Key Program: CODE RED Universal Safety Planning

Julie Cerel’s groundbreaking work is changing how the world handles suicide loss. From research to real-life tools like CODE RED, she continues to save lives and support healing.

Her message is simple: we can’t just prevent suicide — we also have to care for the survivors.

To learn more about Dr. Cerel’s work, visit the Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab website.