CHARLOTTE, NC – Robert Cramer has dedicated his career to suicide prevention, a mission deeply rooted in personal conviction and professional expertise. Now serving as the Irwin Belk Distinguished Scholar of Health Research in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health at UNC Charlotte, Cramer has become a leading force in military suicide prevention research, developing programs and training tools to support active-duty service members and veterans facing mental health challenges.
After years of working in clinical psychology and forensic research, Cramer transitioned into public health, violence prevention, and suicide intervention, focusing on high-risk populations. His work includes designing suicide prevention training tools for the military and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, as well as spearheading Department of Defense-funded therapy research for suicidal service members.
“The sacrifice service members make is profound,” Cramer says. “Beyond the physical demands, combat exposure, separation from family, and post-traumatic stress can significantly affect mental well-being and interfere with both military performance and reintegration into civilian life.”
His Core Competency Suicide Prevention Training program provides mental health professionals with ten essential skills for preventing suicide among service members. His work has gained international recognition, leading him to consult with clinicians at universities, hospitals, and prisons in Finland, Australia, Scotland, England, and the Czech Republic.
A Journey Toward Military Mental Health Advocacy
Cramer’s path to suicide prevention began in New York, where he developed an early interest in psychology after witnessing the struggles of friends with mental health challenges. He pursued his bachelor’s degree at Loyola University Maryland in 2004 and later earned a doctorate at the University of Alabama in 2010. His career took him through Sam Houston State University in Texas and the University of California San Francisco, where he explored forensic psychology, criminal justice, and mental health intervention.
It wasn’t until 2015, while working at Old Dominion University in Virginia, that he found his calling in military suicide prevention. Norfolk, home to the largest naval port in the world, exposed him to the urgent need for military-focused mental health programs. When he joined UNC Charlotte in 2019, he brought this focus with him, expanding his research and outreach.
Throughout his career, Cramer has embraced the Jesuit philosophy of “cura personalis,” or care for the whole person, which he first encountered at Loyola Maryland. This philosophy informs his approach to suicide prevention, balancing technical expertise with holistic, person-centered care.
“What I can tell you is that we are saving lives and improving the quality of life for service members,” Cramer says. “That’s worth all the administrative challenges that come with academia.”
From Forensic Psychology to Suicide Prevention
Cramer’s academic journey initially led him toward forensic psychology, where he worked in law and clinical assessments within the legal system. However, he soon realized the field lacked the human connection he sought in his work.
“With trial work, I felt trapped in a niche,” he recalls. “Defending individuals guilty of serious crimes and remaining neutral in a case was not for me. I needed to do work that had a real impact on people’s lives.”
That realization led him to suicide prevention research, a field that had always interested him. In 2012, his research team published a groundbreaking peer-reviewed study outlining best practices for suicide prevention training in mental health disciplines.
“That article changed my career,” he says. “It established a training approach that has expanded into multiple funded projects and international work and gave me a clear path into public health.”
Since 2017, Cramer has collaborated with Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, leading a $4 million, Department of Defense-funded clinical trial focused on new group therapy methods for suicidal service members.
“This project has been the most meaningful research of my career,” he says. “Understanding how service members perceive their ability to cope with stressors and suicide risk has been critical in designing effective interventions.”
Innovative Approaches to Suicide Prevention
Through his work, Cramer seeks to identify key factors that influence suicide risk, such as access to firearms and coping mechanisms. His findings indicate that strong coping beliefs are associated with lower suicide risk, suggesting that targeted therapy can significantly improve outcomes for service members.
His expertise has extended beyond military settings. In England, he provided training seminars for forensic hospital staff as part of the UK’s National Health Service, leading to the development of a suicide prevention clinical practice tool.
At UNC Charlotte, Cramer played a key role in establishing the Violence Prevention Center, which offers community-based training programs in partnership with Charlotte Public Health and the Department of Public Health and Violence Prevention.
A Global Perspective on Suicide Prevention
Cramer has conducted suicide prevention research and training in Finland, Scotland, Australia, and the Czech Republic, helping develop clinical intervention strategies for use in hospitals, prisons, and military facilities.
“My doctoral mentor encouraged me to take chances and pursue opportunities,” he says. “Applying for new projects and global collaborations has taken my work to places I never imagined.”
Fighting for Change and Advocacy
Cramer believes in loyalty to people rather than institutions. While he values academia, he does not shy away from pushing back against bureaucracy and advocating for military and correctional mental health initiatives.
“I am fiercely defensive of my military and correctional partners,” he says. “I don’t believe in staying silent or sitting on the sidelines when change is needed.”
He applies that same dedication to mentorship, guiding students and young professionals into careers where they can make meaningful contributions.
“My greatest hope is that my mentees, whether in psychology or public health, will carry this mission forward,” he says. “That will be the closest I get to a legacy in suicide prevention.”
