Research at a glance
Research Topics
Research Summary
Dr. Williams studies ways to reduce suicide among youth and young adults.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2025
- Master of Social Work (MSW) in Clinical Health; University of Maryland-Baltimore, 2015
- Bachelor of Science in Family and Human Services, Minor in Art; Towson University, 2012
- Coursework in Political Sociology and Economics; Payap University, 2011
Research interests
- Youth and young adult suicide prevention/life promotion
- Suicide bereavement and postvention
- Sexual and gender expansive mental health
- Mental health disparities and equity
- Visual arts-based intervention modalities
Dr. Williams (they/them) is a licensed clinical social worker, researcher, and scholar-artivist specializing in suicide prevention (i.e., life promotion) and postvention for youth and young adults, with a focus on promoting mental health equity and wellbeing among sexual and gender diverse people of color. Dr. Williams’ research agenda is undergirded by over a decade of experience in community organizing and clinical practice, primarily in the Baltimore City and County Public School Systems and outpatient clinics. Recently, under the guidance of a community-based steering committee, Dr. Williams created the novel Transformational-Visual Intervention for Exposure With Suicide (Transformational-VIEWS), a psychosocial arts-based intervention aiming to support a diverse group of young adults coping with suicide loss.
Dr. Williams’ research approach and teaching philosophies draw from community-centered, decolonial frameworks and emphasize critical pedagogy and dialogue to engage students in personal reflexivity as they analyze systemic oppression and complicity to move liberatory work forward. Dr. Williams also educates on trauma, mental health, and suicide prevention for youth and young adults, advocating through community workshops, panels, podcasts, op-eds, and both academic and general audience publications.
Selected publications
- Ware, O. D., Chapman, M. V., Williams, D. Y., Benesch, V., Aguiar, J. (in press). A performing arts intervention to decrease suicide stigma on campus: A three-time point assessment of “Every Brilliant Thing.” PLOS Mental Health.
- Williams, D. Y. (2025). An anti-carceral approach to suicide prevention: Uncharted territories in life promotion work. Social Work, 70(2), 177–180. doi.org/10.1093/sw/swaf010
- Williams, D. Y., Hall, W. J., Dawes, H. C., Srivastava, A., Radtke, S. R., Ramon, M., Bouchard, D., Chen, W. T. (2023). The relationship between internalized stigma and depression and suicide risk among queer youth in the United States: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1205581
- Williams, D. Y., Hall, W. J., Dawes, H. C., Rizo, C. F., Goldbach, J. T. (2022). An integrated conceptual model to understand suicidality among queer youth to inform suicide prevention. Societies, 12(6), 170. doi.org/10.3390/soc12060170
- Williams, D. Y., Wexler, L., & Mueller, A. (2022). Suicide postvention in schools: What evidence support our current national recommendations? School Social Work Journal, 46(2), 23-69. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10869049/
