Clinical Psychologist| Postdoctoral Fellow| Studies suicide, depression, stigma, & lived experience| Psychology Today Blog, “Deeper Mental Health”https://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3m2phh4imzk2xHow do you help someone through a suicidal crisis? Sometimes, giving our loved ones joy & connection can give them enough time to reset. Think of joy as an emotional fire extinguisher. It's not a long-term fix, but it can help someone live another day. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/deeper-mental-health/202509/the-power-of-joy-in-suicide-prevention08 Oct 2025 20:15 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2phh4imzk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lt37rcaoqc24I passed the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)! This means I’m 95% of the way toward practicing as an independent psychologist. Soon, I will launch my new practice & start taking clients…more info to come. For now, here’s new headshot :) Happy 4th of July, everyone!03 Jul 2025 17:08 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lt37rcaoqc24https://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lqpop7k6nc2kThis is censorship of science & academic freedom. And it is terrifying… https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/01/us-veterans-affairs-agency-doctors-scientists-research03 Jun 2025 16:13 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqpop7k6nc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lq5zlbej522iWe all want to end mental health stigma, but what does “stigma” even mean? In my latest piece, I get honest about my concerns for 3-word phrases that lack depth and specificity. “We cannot “end the stigma” if we do not know what “stigma” is.” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/deeper-mental-health/202505/what-does-end-the-stigma-even-mean27 May 2025 15:40 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lq5zlbej522ihttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lo4wtupufs2oI really appreciate when a Reviewer engages with a submitted article & devotes their expertise to this unpaid service…and… …a 1700 word review is *a lot* to respond to… My reframe is that it’s better to have a more engaged review than someone who barely read the paper01 May 2025 18:28 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lo4wtupufs2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lnxu7qefnc2eLast week, I presented a poster at the Suicide Research Symposium on the VA’s high-risk flag system. The procedure is aimed to help providers identify Veterans who are at a high risk of suicide. Our team did a quality improvement study to learn providers’ views on the process. Check it out!29 Apr 2025 17:58 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnxu7qefnc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lng2l7w5ck2aOur research on academic mental health was featured again — this time by University of California, Berkeley! This story blends the personal with the science to highlight how Dragonfly Mental Health is at the forefront of reducing stigma in graduate departments. https://news.berkeley.edu/2025/04/21/a-spate-of-suicides-drew-this-alumna-back-to-uc-berkeley-to-confront-mental-health-issues-in-academia/22 Apr 2025 16:04 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lng2l7w5ck2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3ln424pxm4s25Really honored to see our research study featured in Nature Magazine. We assessed the Dragonfly Mental Health program, which aims to increase MH awareness & reduce stigma in academics. 95% of attendees felt the program reduced stigma. Check it out! https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01083-218 Apr 2025 16:29 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ln424pxm4s25https://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lme6dsi4sc23This is a damaging move for US science — cutting 50% of National Science Foundation (NSF) fellowships. These grants are used to attract, train & support some of the best young scientists. Cutting this funding is a terrible investment. https://www.science.org/content/article/nsf-slashes-graduate-fellowship-program09 Apr 2025 04:41 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lme6dsi4sc23https://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lkjezndrc22pWhen research funding is being cut, it’s crazy that journals still expect academics to review articles for free. When scientists lose their jobs, what is the incentive to keep reviewing papers?16 Mar 2025 19:33 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkjezndrc22phttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3ljxws6uqpc2mI proudly attended the Stand Up for Science rally. The most compelling speech came from a pediatric cancer doctor… He noted that, for many cancers, NIH-funded science has improved survival outcomes for child patients from 15% to 80%. Science saves lives. We must save science ✊09 Mar 2025 21:03 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljxws6uqpc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lj7gtqxvis2pThe Trump Administration’s cuts to VA staff & research budget is threatening my and others’ research, where I hope to develop a suicide intervention for Veterans. I also do not feel safe at my job, despite being a psychologist. Don’t you believe Veterans—our heroes—deserve the best health care?28 Feb 2025 03:14 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lj7gtqxvis2phttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lixqebutoc2sI’ll say confidently that today’s email debacle wasted millions of dollars in tax payer money d/t lost labor. Workers were confused, stressed, & refreshing emails constantly. Calculate the time spent on this task x the # of federal employees x their hourly pay… 100s of millions, gone 💰25 Feb 2025 01:43 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lixqebutoc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3limsbj63ak2oIt’s been 8 years since I lost my brother, Matt, to suicide. This anniversary, I was compelled to share some reflections on my grief journey. I hope these reflections can spread awareness & remind people they are not alone. https://www.psychologytoday.com/za/blog/deeper-mental-health/202502/surviving-the-impossible-reflections-on-suicide-loss20 Feb 2025 17:18 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3limsbj63ak2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3li5sqvbbvs2eMy motivation for writing academic papers is at a low point. Publications are currency for research jobs… But with hiring freezes & severe budget cuts to VA/NIH/NSF/university systems…I’m questioning their value atm. To other early career psychologists/scientists, my thoughts are with you.14 Feb 2025 18:16 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3li5sqvbbvs2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lh5klggh4c2mScientists at the Center for Disease Control are literally being censored by the government from using the terms: Gender Transgender Pregnant person Pregnant people LGBT What happened to free speech? And wth are you supposed to call a pregnant person? https://insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-news-cdc-orders-mass-retraction01 Feb 2025 22:25 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lh5klggh4c2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lgyj7n34ms26Just bc the world is on fire doesn’t mean you should forget about your New Year’s Resolutions. In my latest blog on @psychologytoday.com, I share guidance on how to set smarter goals: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/deeper-mental-health/202501/practical-tips-to-achieve-your-goals30 Jan 2025 22:17 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgyj7n34ms26https://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lgvlvus5u22vAcademics & healthcare providers… We must take some accountability for the threats to health/science. We have failed at communicating what we do & why our work is essential to the public. Stop writing that academic article…start finding ways to talk with - and listen to - ppl outside your bubble29 Jan 2025 18:27 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgvlvus5u22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewdevendorf.bsky.social/post/3lgtsqn2j6c2dImagine if every mental health professional at the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals took a buyout. Veterans with PTSD, depression, substance use diagnoses…groups that are at high risk of suicide…. Would potentially be in danger. Is this really the way toward a more “efficient” government? [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Jan 2025 01:24 +0000at://did:plc:udv3gvrmcpu5cyttaechlhwb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgtsqn2j6c2d