Dr. Rebecca SanfordAssociate Professor | Faculty of Education & Social Work

Research Interests

Current research projects:
-BSW and BA in CYC Recent Graduates' Experiences of Work Transition and Moral Injury
-Suicide Curriculum, Education, and Training for Helping Professionals
-Advancing Life Promotion Initiatives
-Canadian Suicide Exposure Study

Publications

Select Peer Reviewed Publications:
Sanford, R.L., Frey, L.M., *Thind, N., *Butcher, B., & Maple, M. (2026). Unpacking the meaning of closeness, reconsidering the concept of impact in suicide exposure, and expanding beyond bereavement: "Just, I hope you don't forget about us." OMEGA. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228231196616

Sanford, R.L., Frey, L.M., & Maple, M. (2025). A missing link in suicide prevention and intervention: Preparing the Bachelor of Social Work workforce to respond to suicide. Journal of Social Work Education, 61(4). 595-607.

Maple, M., Cerel, J., Sanford, R.L., Shand, F., Batterham, P., & Bhullar, N. (2022). Suicide exposure experience screener for use in therapeutic settings: A validation report. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 52(5). 975-982. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12894

Bhullar, N., Sanford, R.L., Maple, M. (2021). Profiling risk factors for psychological distress in a community sample of suicide exposed and bereaved people: An empirical test of the proposed Continuum of Survivorship model. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. DOI: doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.692363

Sanford, R.L., Hawker, K., Maple, M., & Wayland, S. (2021). Workplace exposure to suicide among Australian mental health workers: A mixed methods study. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(1). 286-299. DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1111/inm.12783

Maple, M. & Sanford, R.L. (2020). Suicide exposure and impact within a non-representative Australian community sample. Death Studies, 44(6). 329-337. DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2018.1554609

Maple, M., Sanford, R.L., Pirkis, J., Reavley, N., & Nicholas, A. (2019). Exposure to suicide in Australia: A representative random digit dial study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 259. 221-227. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.050

Cerel, J. & Sanford, R.L. (2018). It's not who you know, it's how you think you know them: Suicide exposure and suicide bereavement. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 71(1). 76-96. DOI: 10.1080/00797308.2017.1415066

Feigelman, W., Cerel, J., & Sanford, R.L. (2018). Disclosure in traumatic deaths as correlates of differential mental health outcomes. Death Studies, 42(7). 456-462. DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2017.1372533

Sanford, R.L., Cerel, J., & Frey, L.M. (2018). Survivor of suicide loss support group facilitators: Do peers and professionals differ? Social Work with Groups, 41(4). 306-322. DOI: 10.1080/01609513.2017.1351414

Maple, M., Pearce, T., Sanford, R., Cerel, J., Castelli-Dransart, D. & Andriessen, K. (2018). A systematic mapping of suicide bereavement and postvention research and a proposed strategic research agenda. Crisis, 39(4). 275-282. DOI:10.1027/0227-5910/a000498

Maple, M., Pearce, T., Sanford, R.L., & Cerel, J. (2017). The role of social work in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention: A scoping review. Australian Social Work, 70(3). 289-301. DOI: 10.1080/0312407X.2016.1213871

Maple, M., Cerel, J., Sanford, R.L., Pearce, T., & Jordan, J. (2017). Is exposure to suicide beyond kin associated with risk for suicidal behavior? A review of the evidence. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 47(4). 461-474. DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12308

Fettrow, E.A., Sanford, R.L., Bennett, S. (2017). Pre-service educators' perceptions of child abuse/neglect (CAN) training: Recommendations for practice. Journal of Health Education Teaching, 8(1). 1-16.

Sanford, R.L., Ratliff, S., & Staton-Tindall, M. (2017). Working with parents who use alcohol and drugs. In L. Dixon, D. Perkins, C. Hamilton-Giachritsis, & L. Craig (Eds.), The Wiley Handbook of What Works in Child Maltreatment: An Evidence-Based Approach to Assessment and Intervention in Child Protection. Wiley-Blackwell.

Sanford, R.L., Cerel, J., McGann, V., & Maple, M. (2016). Suicide loss survivors' experiences with therapists: Implications for clinical practice. Community Mental Health Journal, 52(5). 551-558. DOI: 10.1007/s10597-016-0006-6

Courses Taught

Thompson Rivers University:
SOCW 3010 Introduction to Social Work Research
SOCW 3040/4020 Social Work Field Practice
SOCW 3760 Family and Child Welfare Practice
SOCW 4400 Social Work and Mental Health
SOCW 4600 Special Topic Course: Grief and Loss
SOCW 4610 Social Work with Groups
SOCW 4760 Family and Child Welfare Policy

University of Kentucky:
SW 421 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
SW 422 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
SW 445 Field Practicum II
SW 505 Child Welfare Services
SW 580 Enhancing Safety and Permanency
SW 580 Case Management in Child Welfare
SW 580 Partnership in Supporting Children and Adults in Need
SW 600 Theory Informed Social Work Practice with Individuals
SW 602 Theory Informed Social Work Practice with Groups

Defiance College:
SW 120 Life in Society
SW 230 Behavioral Statistics
SW 278 Interviewing and Interpersonal Communication
SW 356 Social Work Practice II: Groups and Families

Timetable