Ruch Lab
Donna A. Ruch, PhD, is interested in improving behavioral health and suicide related outcomes across youth serving systems (juvenile justice, child welfare, healthcare, education) to better inform suicide prevention strategies.
Her research focuses on:
- Promoting improved outcomes for youth and families via a systems of care approach to suicide prevention.
- Identifying risk and protective factors associated with suicide in youth to advance prevention strategies.
- Building capacity for cross-system collaboration to guide research decisions that can identify optimal targets for intervention.
Dr. Ruch receives funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Current Projects
Youth incarcerated in the juvenile justice system are found to have higher rates of suicidal behavior than the general population. While progress has been made to reduce suicide for youth within juvenile correctional facilities, minimal consideration has been given to the risk for suicide in youth after incarceration. Previously incarcerated youth face numerous challenges reintegrating back into the community that can increase their risk for suicidal behavior. Estimates further suggest that youth involved in the justice system have significant mental health issues, and time spent in the system can exacerbate these conditions.
Despite the recognized risk in this vulnerable population, evidence-based suicide prevention strategies are not integrated as part of routine reentry services for youth released from confinement. Funded by a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) career development K award, this study uses innovative machine learning techniques to develop a risk prediction model incorporating youth characteristics and contextual factors associated with confinement to assess suicide risk more accurately in youth following incarceration.
Lab Staff
Donna Ruch, PhD
Principal Investigator
Donna.Ruch@NationwideChildrens.org
Donna Ruch, PhD, is a senior research scientist in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Her research focuses on behavioral health and healthcare disparities, the epidemiology of suicide and suicidal behavior and strategies for suicide prevention in youth involved with child-serving systems (juvenile justice, child welfare, Medicaid). Dr. Ruch’s work has been published in several leading academic journals and featured in national media outlets including CNN, NPR and The New York Times.
Cassandra Hartman
Clinical Research Program Coordinator
Cassandra.Hartman@NationwideChildrens.org
Cassandra Hartman is a Clinical Research Program Coordinator in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research. She received a double Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Psychology from the University of Texas – Dallas, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the University of Dayton. Cassandra has been an advocate for mental health and suicide since 2011, volunteering with organizations such as American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, North American Alliance for Mental Illness, and Local Outreach for Suicide Survivors. Her research interests include health disparities, risk factors among children and adolescents, and accessibility of services for under-served populations.
Carol Wygant
Clinical Research Associate
Carol.Wygant@NationwideChildrens.org
Carol Wygant is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degree in Social Work. She has a passion for social justice initiatives and is particularly interested in addressing disparities pertaining to mental health and access to care through her work with CSPR. She hopes that her research contributions will create a better, more equitable world for all, specifically for vulnerable and historically underserved populations.