Sara Williams (she/her), Ph.D., MSSW, CSW is an award-winning researcher in the areas of suicide prevention and gender and sexual diversity. Her dissertation research focuses on the intersection of gender and sexual diversity and lived experience of suicide. Her areas of interest have ranged from individual experiences of suicide to social factors contributing to elevated suicide prevalence among gender- and sexually- diverse persons. This work is based on the conviction that to alleviate the intense suffering that frequently leads individuals to consider and attempt suicide, we must address social factors that are contributing to suffering and preventing gender and sexually diverse folx from living the life they want to live.
In addition to research, Sara’s work involves awareness and training efforts that enhance people’s understanding of gender and sexual diversity and improves suicide risk assessment and management services. She provides suicide prevention trainings for community members through the Louisville Mayor’s Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods and works closely with the State Suicide Prevention Coordinator on prevention efforts. Sara also serves on suicide prevention and diversity boards and committees with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the American Association of Suicidology, Trauma-Resilient Communities, and the University of Louisville. Sara has served as co-chair for the Active Minds group on campus — which promotes mental health awareness and well-being among college students— as well as helping to plan the UofL Out of the Darkness Campus Walk for suicide prevention for the past 6 years.
Sara believes that to address the issues in our society, we have to address social injustices and interactions at all levels, and as a loss survivor with lived experience of suicide, Sara is determined to spread knowledge and hope wherever possible. Her goal is to promote a world of inclusion, connection, and safety for everyone in all aspects of her work.
Sara M. Williams
Email Me
saramwilliams.com
Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science,
University of Louisville • September 2022Dissertation: Stigma Described by Attempt Survivors with Diverse Gender and Sexual Identities in Their Suicide Stories: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Dissertation
Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville • May 2016
University of Louisville • May 2013
My research focuses on experiences of suicide among gender and sexually diverse persons with lived experience of suicide.
Srivastava, A., Prost, S.G. & Williams, S.M.• 2022
Harris, L.M., Williams, S.M., Nyerges, E.X. & Bloomer, R.• 2022
Antle, B.F., Harris, L.M., Wright, J.H., Eells, T., Logsdon, A., Williams, S.M., Katz, R., Cappicce, A., & Owen, J.• 2021
Antle, B.F., Owen, J., Wells, M.J., Eells, T.D., Harris, L.B., Cappiccie, A., Wright, R.B., Williams, S.M., & Wright, J.H. • 2019
Williams, S.M., Frey, L.M., Stage, D.L., & Cerel, J.• 2018
Harris, L.M., Bloomer, R., Williams, S.M., Osezua, V., Sato, D., Thang, N.D., Byun, K., & Hambrick, M.• Paper presentation at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. May 2021. Urbana-Champaign, IL.
Williams, S.M. & Frey, L.M. • Paper presentation at the American Association of Suicidology Annual Conference. April 2020. Portland, OR. (Accepted, unable to present due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.)
Williams, S.M., Frey, L.M., Antle, B.F., Barbee, A., & Frame, C.• Poster presentation at the American Association of Suicidology Annual Conference. April 2020. Portland, OR. (Accepted, unable to present due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.)
Purdy, L.M., Williams, S.M., Randall, J.M., & Harris, L.M.• Paper presentation at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. May 2019. Urbana-Champlain, IL.
Williams, S.M. & Frey, L.M.• Poster presentation at the American Association of Suicidology Annual Conference. April 2019. Denver, CO.
Williams, S.M., Brown, M., Cerel, J., Frey, L.M., & Kheibari, A.• Paper presentation at the American Association of Suicidology Annual Conference. April 2018. Washington, DC.
Kheibari, A., Brown, M., Cerel, J., Frey, L.M., & Williams, S.M.• Paper presentation at the American Association of Suicidology Annual Conference. April 2018. Washington, DC.
Williams, S.M., Frey, L.M., Stage, D.L., & Cerel, J.• Poster presentation at the American Association of Suicidology Annual Conference. April 2017. Phoenix, AZ.
Frey, L.M., Stage, D.L., Cerel, J., Sanford, R.L., Nadler, S., & Williams, S.M.• Panel presentation at the American Association of Suicidology Annual Conference. April 2017. Phoenix, AZ.
Williams, S.M.• Invited presentation for Coalition for the Homeless. June 2021.
Williams, S.M.• Workshop for Field Educators. Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville. May 2021.
Williams, S.M.• Invited Presentation. CCC/PACS Virtual Conference: What We Don't Know Can Hurt. April 2021.
Williams, S.M.• Invited Presentation. One Love Louisville, Mayor’s Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods. Jan 26, 2021.
Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville • Fall 2019 - Present
Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville• Summer 2017 - Present