DNP Student Honors Son Through Suicidology Research and #DoItForChase

By Sally Evans

On October 16, 2013, College of Nursing DNP student Nicki Sullivan lost her 12-year-old son, Chase Whatley, to suicide.

Wanting to honor Chase’s life, Sullivan, 39, received her BSN in August of 2014 and entered the DNP program that fall. “I thought this was the best way to do something productive,” Sullivan said. “I needed to figure out a way to channel the wealth of knowledge and resources I had into something I could use to help people.”

Chase, who attended Jessie Clark Middle School, was a member of the school football team and played cello in the orchestra. “Chase loved to make people laugh,” said Sullivan. “He had an infectious laugh, one silly dimple and a mischievous twinkle in his eye that will always be unforgettable.” 

Sullivan also has two daughters: Casey, 18, who is a senior at Lafayette High School (LHS); and Cara, 12, a 6th grader at Jessie Clark Middle School. Casey will attend UK in the fall as a pre-med major. She is involved with Teen Board at LHS where she shares her story about Chase and helps others struggling with depression and bullying. 

Following her son’s death, Sullivan discovered the American Association of Suicidology (AAS)—a charitable non-profit membership organization for those involved in suicide prevention and intervention or touched by suicide—while researching suicide for a core class. The organization serves to advance scientific and programmatic efforts in suicide prevention through research, education and training, the development of standards and resources, and survivor support services. 

Although Sullivan had never heard the term “suicidology” prior to her research, she decided to attend the 48th annual AAS conference in Atlanta, Ga. last year.

“I was able to not only learn about the latest suicide prevention research and evidence-based practice, but I attended a Healing After Loss Conference on the last day geared toward suicide loss survivors,” said Sullivan. “I heard stories from other loss survivors who had been through similar experiences.”

Sullivan came back from the conference feeling challenged and ready to make a contribution to suicidology in middle schools like Jessie Clark. Through a mutual friend, she was put in contact with Julie Cerel, PhD, president elect of AAS and associate professor at the UK College of Social Work, who is now on Sullivan’s DNP committee.

“I am so glad to be working with Nicki as she is taking her son’s death and turning it into something to help other families,” said Cerel. “It’s important to have a multidisciplinary approach with suicidology, and I’m so happy to have a nursing student in my group of graduate students.”

Sullivan continued researching and looked specifically to Jessie Clark Middle School, which implemented the Lifelines Suicide Prevention Program the year following Chase’s death. Assistant Professor Karen Stefaniak, PhD, RN, NE-BC, as well as Sullivan’s advisor and mentor, Jan Findlay, PhD, MSN, APRN, assistant professor at the College of Nursing, were instrumental in helping Sullivan along the way.

“Nicki entered the Psychiatric Mental Health DNP program with a sharp focus and sense of determination to examine factors that may contribute to teen suicide—an area that deserves much more attention from researchers than has previously been received,” said Jan Findlay, PhD, MSN, APRN, assistant professor at the College of Nursing.

After comparing the Lifelines Suicide Prevention Program to other programs such as the SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program, Sullivan found that the Lifelines Program has helped students identify and respond to those at risk for suicide as well as improve students’ knowledge of suicide, create a better attitude toward the interventions, increase their ability to recognize suicidal peers and reduce suicidal secret keeping. Gabriel Brown, youth services resource coordinator at Jessie Clark Middle School, developed a relationship with Chase through his direct work on substance-abuse, bullying and suicide prevention.

“Chase will have a lasting impact on myself, his teachers, teammates, peers and the school, as we all experienced his suicide in our own personal way,” said Brown. “I think back on the time I was able to spend with him while he was here, and I remember his good-heartedness, sense of humor and our talks together over anything else.”

Since Chase’s suicide, Jessie Clark has integrated a national suicide prevention curriculum as well as a parent program to ensure that students and parents receive answers to their questions on mental health. In addition, Jessie Clark holds an annual mental health parent night to assist parents in learning how to approach mental health issues and identify when to access treatment.

Not only is Jessie Clark taking steps toward prevention, but Sullivan will return to the 49th annual AAS conference on March 30 to April 2 to present her own capstone, “A Literature Review of Suicide Prevention Programs Within Middle Schools,” in Chicago, Ill. 

“When I looked at the AAS website for conference information for 2016, I noticed that abstracts for poster presentations were due within a few days,” Sullivan said. “I submitted my literature review because I felt my research was important. There is not enough information on suicide prevention programs in the middle school setting.”

Since Chase’s passing, Sullivan has used the hashtag #DoItForChase on social media. “If I ever have doubts or wonder why I’m doing this, I just think, #DoItForChase!”

Sullivan previously worked as an emergency room nurse for Central Baptist and Saint Joseph Hospitals. She will graduate May 2017 and will continue to honor Chase working in an inpatient setting with children and adolescents and teach part-time in a university setting. Sullivan will collaborate on suicide and bullying research with particular regard to social media and hopes to work within the mental health community to decrease the stigma associated with suicide and mental illness. Her aim is to help those who are struggling feel more comfortable coming forward to seek help.

“I know Chase has been guiding me on my journey. By increasing suicide awareness and educating others on suicide prevention, I think we can make a real difference in people’s lives.”