About

Irene Xu

They/Them

PhD Student
University of Notre Dame

About

Hello! I am Irene Xu (pronunciation) and I use they/them pronouns. I am a PhD student in the Clinical Psychology Program at the University of Notre Dame. I work with Dr. Brooke Ammerman at the Affect, Suicide, Self-Injury, and Social Triggers (ASSIST) Lab. My research is oriented around understanding the transition from suicidal ideation to suicidal behaviors, especially the distal and proximal cognitive and affective factors involved in the decision making process.

Research

Some of the questions that my research tries to answer are:

• Why do some individuals engage in suicidal behaviors while some others are able to stop themselves?
• How do individuals decide on whether to attempt suicide?
  
• What can we learn from the disproportionately high rate of SITB in the gender diverse population?

To answer these questions, I employ a wide range of methods, including cross-sectional, longitudinal, and ecological momentary study designs. See my recent projects here.
I’m also interested in are disseminating scientific findings in accessible ways and implementing scalable interventions in socially disadvantaged communities. If you share similar interests and would like to collaborate, please feel free to reach out.

Resources

• Applying to PhD programs
• Faculty who study suicide
• If you or a loved one is experiencing emotional hardships

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Please email Irene if you are interested in collaborating.
Please note that Irene cannot answer clinical queries. The material on this site is not intended to substitute for clinical advice.
Share your comments, concerns, suggestions, or additional resources here.
Page last updated: 2023-10-05