Thank you for your interest in TRTL!

​

Our research is primarily focused on non-suicidal self-injury (self-harm, or NSSI) and suicide. We are especially interested in understanding how issues of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination influence risk for these experiences among marginalized groups, and how these risks may change over time. We use multiple methodologies, including intensive longitudinal assessment, to understand how risk and protective factors for self-injury and suicide may change in daily life. We also use community-engaged approaches to understand the experiences of members of marginalized communities. In brief, our work spans three related areas:

 

1) Suicide and self-injury during high-risk transitions: Research has demonstrated that the risk of self-injury and suicide varies over time, and may be particularly elevated after leaving inpatient psychiatric care. With funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH R21MH124794), we led a longitudinal study following adults after discharge from inpatient psychiatric are in Lubbock, Texas. These participants provided data on their emotional experiences, behaviors, physical activity, and sleep, with the goal of clarifying how these factors influence suicide and self-injury risk in the weeks and months after leaving inpatient care. Additional research in this area is being led by doctoral student Kirsten Christensen, also supported by the NIMH (F31MH136767), in a study which is designed to improve our assessment of suicidal ideation for research and clinical purposes among youth.

 

2) Gender minority stress and resilience: Transgender and non-binary people are known to be at higher risk of self-injury and suicide, compared to cisgender people (people whose gender matches what was assigned to them at birth). However, the mechanisms explaining this pattern require further study, especially to document how stress and resilience factors may influence risk for self-injury and suicide over time in daily life. In a recently completed study funded by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP YIG-0-138-21), we tested existing theories using ecological momentary assessment to examine changes in risk and resilience in the lives of transgender adults receiving mental health services. 

 

3) Ableism and mental health among people with disabilities: People with disabilities experience mental and physical health disparities, which may be impacted by ableism, or disability prejudice. Using a minority stress framework adapted from our work with transgender and non-binary adults, Dr. Victor is co-leading (with Dr. Adam Schmidt) a large project to examine the negative effects of ableism on children with visual impairment, funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI R01EY036676). This project will enroll 500 children who are blind or visually impaired, along with a parent or guardian, to assess their experiences with ableism and their mental and physical health. Dr. Victor is also committed to advocacy towards inclusion of people with disabilities in psychology research and clinical practice, and has published and presented on the value of including people with lived experiences of psychiatric and other disabilities within our field.

​

TRTL is part of the Department of Psychological Sciences at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.

​

To reach TRTL team members, please email us here.