Dr. Thomas Ellis Joiner stands as a preeminent authority in clinical psychology and suicide research, holding the prestigious Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professorship in the Department of Psychology at Florida State University. As Director of the FSU Psychology Clinic and principal investigator of the Military Suicide Research Consortium, he maintains a pivotal leadership role in advancing suicide prevention science. Joiner completed his undergraduate education at Princeton University before earning his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993, establishing the foundation for his groundbreaking career in mental health research. His scholarly trajectory has been marked by consistent recognition of excellence, culminating in FSU's highest faculty honor, the Lawton Professorship, which acknowledges sustained scholarly achievement and institutional impact.
Joiner's seminal contribution to the field is the development of the interpersonal theory of suicide, a comprehensive framework that has fundamentally reshaped understanding of suicidal behavior through its examination of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and acquired capability for self-harm. His prolific scholarship includes over 800 peer-reviewed publications, numerous influential books including Why People Die By Suicide (2005) and Myths About Suicide (2010), and his leadership as Editor-in-Chief of Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, the field's premier journal. The empirical validation of his theoretical work has provided clinicians with actionable insights for risk assessment and intervention, particularly through his identification of the three critical factors that mark individuals at highest risk of death by suicide. As Director of the Department of Defense-funded Military Suicide Research Consortium, a $70 million initiative spanning thirteen years, Joiner has spearheaded research that directly informs suicide prevention strategies for military personnel and veterans.
Beyond his research program, Joiner has significantly shaped the field through his service as a consultant to NASA's Human Research Program and his appointment to the University of Minnesota Test Division Advisory Board overseeing the development of the MMPI-3 psychological assessment instrument. His distinguished honors include the American Association of Suicidology's Dublin Award for career achievement, the Association for Psychological Science's James McKeen Cattell Award for lifetime contributions to applied psychological research, and recognition as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Joiner continues to expand the frontiers of suicide science through investigations into acute suicidal affective disturbance, occupational suicide risk factors, and innovative approaches to means safety. His ongoing research portfolio promises to further refine clinical interventions and prevention strategies, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in contemporary mental health science.
