Dr. Frank Campbell Partners with LSU SSW to Develop National Suicidology Training Center
11/15/2018
Baton Rouge, La -- Frank R. Campbell, a Baton Rouge native, received his bachelor
of science, masters of social work, and doctorate all from LSU. He received his BS
in 1972, his MSW in 1988 and his PhD in 2001.
My LSU Experience
Dr. Campbell was born and raised in Baton Rouge, and the university gave him the
opportunity to attend graduate school as well as work full time for both of his graduate
degrees. He believes that his LSU experience led him to be globally engaged. While
earning his MSW, Dr. Campbell was serving as an intern for the Baton Rouge Crisis
Intervention Center. He was able to see the global impact of suicide on all cultures.
Later in his career, Dr. Campbell was invited to open a grief counselling center on
Shankill road in Belfast, Ireland. He was able to work with the Singapore crisis line
volunteers to bring help to those bereaved by suicide in their country, train Local
Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) teams, and speak to communities from cultures
as diverse as the republic of Korea and the United Kingdom.
Dr. Brij Mohan was a School of Social Work faculty member that stood out to Dr. Campbell.
“He was a mentor and colleague who taught me diversity and culture are not to be overlooked when seeking truth. The pursuit of truth will be its own reward but you will pay a price for the effort,” said Dr. Campbell.
With the knowledge and background that the LSU School of Social work provided for Dr. Campbell, he was able to develop an innovative model of reaching out to those bereaved by suicide. He created this model while serving as the president of the American Association of Suicidology. Dr. Campbell presented this concept of a team of professional and para-professionals that would go to the scene of a suicide as first responders while the body was still present. His doctoral dissertation proved that the elapsed time between a suicide and getting help could be significantly reduced by having others who have experienced a suicide present for the newly bereaved as an installation of hope that they can survive and eventually thrive if they can get the help that is available to support their traumatic and complex grief.
An Ideal Career
Throughout his career, Dr. Campbell has been able to network with others that want
to change suicide rates globally. Dr. Campbell was honored by many organizations that
valued his contributions to helping those bereaved by suicide and by clinicians who
attend skills workshops he developed these workshops give people the tools to help
clients who are diagnosed as having complicated grief.
Certain assessment skills and tools have helped getting civilian and military families the resources to experience traumatic growth. Dr. Campbell worked with local and international agencies as well as government officials in the United States and foreign countries about suicide and its aftermath. Many of these policies are being implemented today to enhance access to services and reduce suicide.
Dr. Campbell’s future goals consist of establishing a National Suicidology Training Center in Baton Rouge that builds on his five decades of service that began at LSU. As of November 7, 2018, the LSU School of Social Work announced a partnership to help develop the National Suicidology Training Center.
About SSW
The LSU School of Social Work (SSW) aspires to be a leading school of social work,
a vibrant center of intellectual development, a leader in promoting and supporting
diverse communities, and an advocate for an integrated and inclusive model of social
work, all within a learning environment that supports best educational practices.
The SSW offers Child and Family Studies (CFS) and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) undergraduate
degrees, MSW, online MSW, and PhD. SSW is part of the College of Human Sciences &
Education.
Visit the School of Social Work.
About CHSE
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, the School of Information Studies, the School of Social Work, and the University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs, 18 graduate programs, and 7 online graduate degree and/or certificate programs, enrolling more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,120 graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed to improving quality of life across the lifespan.