Julie Phillips

Julie Phillips is a Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University, part of the School of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania (1998). Her research focuses on mortality, health disparities, immigration, and crime, with a particular emphasis on sociocultural and demographic explanations for suicide trends and youth mental health crises in the U.S. She has been supported by grants from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Institute for Mental Health, and National Science Foundation. Her work has been featured in prominent media outlets like the New York Times and NPR.

• Education: Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1998

Her research interests include understanding how structural societal factors influence suicide rates, mental health outcomes, and health disparities across populations. Recent studies examine racial disparities in suicide among adolescents and young adults, as well as the impact of economic conditions on suicide trends.

• Key Themes: Suicide epidemiology, public health policy, demographic shifts, cultural narratives

Phillips has published in top journals such as Demography and Social Science and Medicine, and serves on advisory boards for suicide prevention initiatives. Her media engagements include op-eds in the Washington Post and interviews on NPR’s Hidden Brain about masculinity and loneliness.

Grants and Funding: Major funders include the AFSP, NIMH, and NSF. Her research bridges sociology, demography, and public health, with a focus on actionable policy insights.