News Archive: July, August, September 2016


September, 2016


Increasing the distance between thoughts and action is one step in preventing suicide

Many people believe two myths about suicide:

1. People who die by suicide have planned for a while and know how they want to do it.

2. If the method that the person wants to use is unavailable, they’ll just find another method.

I call these statements myths because research shows the contrary. A nice overview of the evidence in this area can be found on the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Means Matter project website.  One of the articles included in the review, from 2009, showed that for almost half of the study’s participants, the time between one’s first thought of suicide and making an actual attempt was 10 minutes or less.

US Department of Veterans Affairs, September 30, 2016


Risk Factors for Suicide and Suicidal Behaviors 

American Association of Suicidology, September 30, 2016


The terrorist inside my husband’s brain
by Susan Schneider Williams, BFA

I am writing to share a story with you, specifically for you. My hope is that it will help you understand your patients along with their spouses and caregivers a little more. And as for the research you do, perhaps this will add a few more faces behind the why you do what you do. I am sure there are already so many.

This is a personal story, sadly tragic and heartbreaking, but by sharing this information with you I know that you can help make a difference in the lives of others.

As you may know, my husband Robin Williams had the little-known but deadly Lewy body disease (LBD). He died from suicide in 2014 at the end of an intense, confusing, and relatively swift persecution at the hand of this disease’s symptoms and pathology. He was not alone in his traumatic experience with this neurologic disease. As you may know, almost 1.5 million nationwide are suffering similarly right now.

Neurology, September 27, 2016


For Sufferers’ Sake, Explore The Hidden Side Of Suicide

For all its distress over teen suicides, the secular media is completely silent on the most crucial element of these tragedies.

It’s hard for many of us to empathize with those who contemplate taking their own life, to imagine the state of mind and spirit someone must be in to take such a drastic step to end his suffering. But for those between the ages of 15 and 44, suicide is the third leading cause of death. Among only teenagers, it still ranks third.

The Federalist, September 29, 2016


Resources for Students, Parents & Educators on Bullying & Suicide Prevention

The September edition of ETV’s Carolina Classrooms focused on bullying and suicide prevention. The topics discussed are not new, but there is hope and there are resources available designed to help students, parents and teachers.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

SCETV, September 28, 2016


MediaWatch: Reporting On Suicide

Years ago, I worked as a reporter for a small chain of newspapers in upstate New York. Whenever people died by suicide, our editor included “Death was self-inflicted” in their obituaries. Family members often called into the office greatly upset, because of the stigma they felt was imposed on their loved one’s memory and their family’s reputation. They didn’t want anyone to know.

Today, responses are changing.

National Alliance on Mental Illness, September 28, 2016


Governor Signs Law Requiring School Youth Suicide Prevention Plans

California Governor Jerry Brown today signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2246, authored by Asm. Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach). The bill requires school districts across the state to adopt formal suicide prevention, intervention, and follow-up plans for all middle and high school students. AB 2246 is sponsored by Equality California and The Trevor Project.

“As a classroom teacher, I know from experience that educators often serve as the first line of defense when a student is suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts,” said Assemblymember O’Donnell, chair of the Assembly Education Committee. “AB 2246 will provide parents, teachers and schools with the tools they need to help save the lives of at-risk youth.”

Equality California, September 26, 2016


Suicide: The only top 10 in U.S. deaths that’s increasing yearly

In 2014 — the latest year for which we have accurate figures — there were 42,773 reported suicides in the United States. Currently, there are approximately 120 suicides a day and a substantial number of these are military veterans.

Suicide is the only top 10 cause of death in the United States that is increasing each year, and we know that a substantial number of other deaths, including opiate overdoses and motor vehicle accidents, are also suicides.

For every suicide, there are 25 suicide attempts. Almost 500,000 people a year visit an emergency room to seek care after a suicide attempt. And those numbers don’t tell the whole picture — we know that most suicide attempts are unreported.

Miami Herald, September 26, 2016


Suicide in Children — What Every Parent Must Know

New research finds that suicide in children is triggered by more than sadness

The death of a child is always heart breaking and horribly, horribly wrong. But when a child dies by suicide, it brings a whole different level of grief, pain, and anguished bewilderment to those who cared about the child.

Fortunately, suicide in children is very rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 2 out of every one million children ages 5 to 11 will die by suicide. The rate among adolescents (ages 12-17) is about 52 per million. On average, about 33 children under 12 kill themselves each year in the US (Bridge et al., 2015).

Psychology Today, September 24, 2016


The Stigma of Suicide Survivorship and Related Consequences—A Systematic Review

A considerable proportion of the population experiences major life disruptions after losing a loved one to suicide. Social stigma attached to suicide survivors adds to complications occurring in the course of suicide bereavement. Despite its known risks, stigma related to suicide survivors has been sparsely investigated.

PLOS|One, September 22, 2016


Large-Scale Study Finds Association between Risk of Suicide and Hospitalization with Infection

A 32-year study of 7.2 million Danish individuals suggests that there is a connection between a person’s hospitalization with an infection and his or her risk of suicide. Compared to those individuals in the study who were not hospitalized with an infection, there was a 42 percent increase in the risk of death by suicide for those who had any history of hospitalization with infections – ranging from HIV-AIDS-related infections to sepsis.

Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, September 22, 2016


Suicide survivors on why northern Michigan’s suicide rate is so high

Decades ago as a young man, Pat Gallinagh twice attempted suicide. Today, Gallinagh lives in Ironwood at the western end of the Upper Peninsula, where he heads a suicide support group.

Sadly, it’s a group that gets new members on a regular basis: Northern Michigan, including the U.P., has the state’s highest suicide rates.

Gallinagh says there are three reasons why.

“One, we love our guns in this part of the country,” he said. “Two, we love our alcohol in this part of the country. … Three, we have a scarcity of mental health services.”

Michigan Live, September 21, 2016


The importance of dialogue about suicide and mental health

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death on college campuses, yet the underlying motivations for suicide are often treatable. Many people are unable to help prevent a suicide because they are unaware of the warning signs and risks directly associated with mental health problems that may cause suicide. Some of the most pertinent warning signs include sudden and seemingly random behavior changes and disinterest in regular daily activities. Additionally, most suicide attempts go unreported.

The Diamondback, September 20, 2016


Rail experts discuss ways to prevent suicides

The woman, 39, walked around the Northbrook train station in great distress for hours before she stepped in front of an Amtrak train Sept. 9.

That was what witnesses said later, according to Illinois Commerce Commission rail safety expert Chip Pew. Could she be alive if she had been given some hope or alternative before she made that final decision?

Chicago Tribune, September 20, 2016


Most suicides in young kids are not due to depression

Suicide in children, though rare, is the 10th leading cause of death for elementary school-aged kids in the U.S. According to a study in a forthcoming issue of the journal Pediatrics, it can’t be explained the same way for kids of all ages.

TIME, September 19, 2016


More Child Suicides Are Linked to A.D.D. Than Depression, Study Suggests

Attention deficit disorder is the most common mental health diagnosis among children under 12 who die by suicide, a new study has found.

Very few children aged 5 to 11 take their own lives, and little is known about these deaths. The new study, which included deaths in 17 states from 2003 to 2012, compared 87 children aged 5 to 11 who committed suicide with 606 adolescents aged 12 to 14 who did, to see how they differed.

The research was published on Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

The New York Times, September 19, 2016


10 million U.S. adults seriously considered suicide last year

Almost 10 million U.S. adults seriously thought about committing suicide last year, federal health officials reported Thursday.

Rates of suicide are at historically high levels, having jumped 27 percent since 2000, according to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Nearly three million adults made a plan to take their own life. And 1.4 million adults attempted suicide but weren’t successful, according to the report.

CBS News Healthday, September 15, 2016


Doctors Hope to Predict Patients’ Suicide Risk

Suicide is hard to predict, even for close friends and family of victims.

When Dorothy Paugh’s son, Peter, took his life at the age of 25, her family was devastated.

“We had no idea. None of us,” she said. “We had gotten together a week or so before for his older brother’s birthday. There were really no signs. He never said a word to anybody.”

Suicide is shrouded in stigma and secrecy, even though it impacts countless individuals, families and communities. Someone commits suicide every 40 seconds across the globe, according to the World Health Organization. Data from the Centers for Disease Control show that 40,000 people kill themselves every year in the U.S.

Voice of America News, September 15, 2016


Suicide Rate Is on the Rise in NYC

Suicide rates are on the rise in New York City, especially among women, according to a new study from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The Health Department reported 565 deaths by suicide — or 5.5 deaths per 100,000 New Yorkers — in 2014. That’s up from 448 — or 6.3 deaths — in 2000.

“This concerning increase in the suicide rate in New York City tells us that we’re not reaching New Yorkers early enough when they need support,” Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett said in a press release Wednesday.

dnainfo, September 14, 2016


Survivors Read From the Suicide Notes They Wrote In a Powerful Movember Awareness Ad

In a truly powerful suicide awareness ad, several Australian men, all suicide survivors, read aloud from the notes that they had each intended to leave behind for family and friends. The ad is part of “We Need to Talk“, an international Movember campaign to help prevent suicide among men by encouraging them to share their feelings, troubles and doubts with those who care about them.

Laughing Squid, September 14, 2016


7 Important Stats About Teen Suicide – Suicide affects us all

Chances are you know someone who has taken their life as a result of serious anxiety, depression, or some other kind of mental health issue. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2013 suicide was ranked the tenth-leading cause of death for all age groups.

However, teen suicide in particular is an alarming problem. Too often young people fail to realize that their problems—whether they involve school, dating, or family matters—can be dealt with and will often, in times, pass. So, during the month of September (especially because September 10th was World Suicide Prevention Day) let’s review what do we need to know about suicide, specifically teen suicide…

Active Beat, September 13, 2016


Suicide Has Ripple Effect on Families, Communities, Societies

Dorothy Paugh was nine when her father took his life. “I count that day as the last day of my childhood. Because from that moment on, I had no sense of security. I had no sense that the world was a safe place,” she said.

Her father was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, a place of repose for presidents and military heroes. Paugh’s father served bravely in World War II. After his death, the White House sent a letter from “a grateful nation” that her mother hung prominently on the wall by the front door. Paugh says her mother wanted her children to remember their father as a war hero, and not to focus how he died. But, they never spoke about his death. Paugh said it was a special type of isolation.

Voice of America, September 10, 2016


Study: Social connectedness can yield suicide clusters

“Perhaps one of the most interesting findings of this study is that it highlights the downside to social connectedness,” said researcher Anna S. Mueller.

When a string of teen suicides happens in succession, they’re called suicide clusters or copycat suicides. New research suggests certain community dynamics can encourage suicide clusters and hinder suicide prevention efforts.
UPI, Science News  Sept. 9, 2016


Teens to train in suicide prevention

Some 2,000 national service and youth movement members will become gatekeepers to detect and help those at risk for committing suicide.

Starting this year, National Service volunteers will be trained to prevent people from committing suicide.

This was announced Thursday by the Health and Education ministries in advance of World Day for Suicide Prevention on Friday.The volunteers will be trained through a special program, Shomrei Hasaf (Gatekeepers). The Council of Youth Movements led the project, saying, “We see this as a first step that can save teenagers and children.”
The Jerusalum Post, September 9, 2016


Teamwork key to preventing Soldier suicides, experts say

Staff Sgt. Miguel Sierra vividly recalls himself and his staff handling logistical matters in the aftermath of a sailor committing suicide.

As a behavioral specialist and the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Army Health Clinic at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Sierra said this experience impressed upon him the importance of teamwork and the need for Soldiers to maintain awareness of signs of distress among their fellow Soldiers.

Sierra recalls that just nine years ago, Soldiers would receive “after the fact training,” meaning that units provided suicide education only following a suicide.

“When that happened enough times, people realized the issue was more serious than it was,” he said. “Now, commanders and NCOs are getting the word out about suicide prevention. They’re being more proactive and less reactive.
U.S. Army, Army News Service, September 8, 2016


When Suicide Hits Home: The loss of a young loved one has a devastating effect on families

The statistics are alarming. More than 40,000 Americans commit suicide every year. That averages out to about 110 people every day. Although it is the tenth leading cause of death overall, suicide is the second leading cause of death among those between the ages of 10 and 25 years old. Veterans make up 20 percent of all suicides.
Psychology Today, Sep 06, 2016


10 Essential Facts About Guns and Suicide: The decision to end one’s own life is often an impulse. When firearms are involved, that impulse is almost always fatal.

Despite an alarming uptick in homicides in some urban areas in the last few years, violent death rates are significantly lower than they were in the 1990s. There is one notable exception to this trend. Suicide rates for men and women have steadily increased for the past 15 years.

The statistics are bleak. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. From ages 10 to 34, it is the second leading cause. Last year, at least 40,000 people in the U.S. died by suicide. From 1999 to 2014, the suicide rate for men and women jumped 24 percent.
The Trace, September 6, 2016


Nurse’s Notes: Watch for suicide warnings

“… suicide affects all of us, regardless of our age, race or gender. Montana’s suicide rate has been ranked in the nation’s top five for the past 30 years and our youth suicide rate is double the national rate. According to a report from Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services, firearms (61 percent), suffocation (19 percent) and poisoning (15 percent) are the most common means of suicide in the state, with other means including carbon monoxide, overdose, motor vehicle accidents and jumping from heights.”
The Missoulian, September 6, 2016 


Suicide prevention’s front line: Family and friends

A suicide prevention hotline clinician says knowing the warning signs and what to say could save lives. Each year, close to 43,000 Americans die by suicide, and for the past two decades, suicide rates have been on the rise in the United States, particularly among men aged 45 to 64 and girls aged 10 to 14 – a demographic whose rates have tripled since 1999.

Science Daily, Rutgers University, September 5, 2016


How My Cousin’s Suicide Changed The Way I View Mental Health 

Six months ago, I lost my cousin to suicide. He suffered from depression for about four months before he decided to end his life.

This not only affected me in the psychological sense, but it also made me want to get out into my community and learn about the steps we can take to prevent things like this from happening.

At school, I decided to meet with someone who was recovering from depression. I found her through another friend I knew previously.

After talking to this girl for hours, I realized that one way to fight depression is by really listening to what a person is feeling.

Elite Daily, September 5, 2016


6 Myths About Suicide That Every Educator And Parent Should Know

Every day, thousands of teens attempt suicide in the U.S. — the most extreme outcome for the millions of children in this country who struggle with mental health issues.

As we’ve reported all week, schools play a key role, along with parents and medical professionals, in identifying children who may be at risk of suicide. And one of the biggest challenges: myths that can cloud their judgment.

“People are afraid of the whole topic,” says David Jobes, the head of Catholic University’s Suicide Prevention Lab. “It just feels like something that’s left unsaid or untouched.”

Jobes says one of the most common — and most dangerous — myths about suicide is that young children just don’t kill themselves.

It’s just not true.

NPR ED “Mental Health In Schools: A Hidden Crisis Affecting Millions Of Students,” September 2, 2016


Students leave thousands of positive notes around school after pupil’s suicide

Students in Ohio have paid a wonderful tribute to a pupil who committed suicide by posting thousands of positive messages around their school.

Mason High School student (MHS) Kwadwo Boateng, described by his family as “bright, funny and strong”, took his own life on August 25.

Days later, some of his fellow students spent eight hours writing out thousands of post-it notes and placing them on each student’s locker.

They created more than 3,600 of the notes, which featured positive messages like ‘You are strong’  and ‘You are not alone’ to surprise students who arrived at school the next day.
The Telegraph (UK), September 2, 2016


Changing the Conversation

September is an important month for suicide prevention. World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10, 2016) and National Suicide Prevention Week (September 5–11, 2016) provide us with opportunities to encourage people who are struggling with suicidal behavior to seek help, to assist friends, family members, and helping professionals in supporting individuals who are struggling with suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and to expand the numbers of people who are actively engaged in suicide prevention and mental health promotion.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center, September 2, 2016


Suicide Awareness Month — a link between suicide and eating disorders

As an expert in the field of eating disorders for over 35 years, I have helped thousands of patients and families overcome anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and related food, eating and body image concerns. Lasting eating recovery is possible — even likely — with early intervention from experienced experts.

However, the elevated incidence of suicide is a serious barrier to recovery for eating disordered individuals. Recent estimates suggest that suicide rates are 23 percent higher in those with eating disorders than in the general population. And, little known to the general public, eating disorder rates of death by suicide are significantly higher than that of depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Consider this — the suicide mortality rate in people with anorexia nervosa (AN) is the highest of any psychiatric illness. Individuals with AN are 31 times more likely to make a fatal suicide attempt than the general population, and more than half of AN deaths are a result of suicide and not the medical complications of self-starvation.
The Hill, September 1, 2016


“If physician suicide were an infectious disease it would be on the news every night and we’d have a body count.”

I’m Dr. Pamela Wible. I want to share some personal stories that I think will be really memorable after today. A lot of times if we just approach [physician suicide] from a supratentorial angle it doesn’t hold our attention and make things memorable into the future [the statistics can be overwhelming and frightening]. Just telling personal stories will help you access just a little bit of what my life is like right now. So I want to share a friend of mine with you, a friend of mine named Cheryl, a new friend that I just made a few months ago. Cheryl belongs to a club that nobody wants to be a member of. It’s an online support group that I started for parents who have lost their children to suicide in medical school and beyond (so residency as well). There are more people joining our group every week and month because we continue to lose (unfortunately) medical students to suicide. Cheryl lost her only child, Sean, just 3 months ago.
Ideal Medical Care, September 1, 2016

 
 
 
 

August, 2016


 

Suicide Survivor: Brain Health Service Cuts Are Fiscally Foolish

Cutting mental health programs is penny-wise, pound-foolish and life-threatening, a rare survivor of a suicide jump from the Golden Gate Bridge said Monday.

In June, Gov. Matt Mead announced $248 million in budget cuts, including $90 million (plus a loss of $41 million in matching federal funds) for services offered by the Department of Health including mental health services.

That makes no fiscal sense, Kevin Hines told a group hosted by the Natrona County Suicide Prevention Task Force. at the McMurry Mansion. Hines and his wife Margaret, and Australians Joe Williams and Lauren Breen, are on a “Hopeshelpsheal Tour” promoting suicide awareness and prevention.

Suicide costs the United States about $93.5 billion a year, according to an Oct. 29, 2015, article in the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior from the American Association of Suicidology.
K2 Radio Wyoming, August 29, 2016


Study: Transgender youth face high rates of suicide

Thirty percent of transgender youth report a history of at least one suicide attempt, and nearly 42 percent report a history of self-injury, such as cutting, a new study from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center shows.

The Cincinnati Children’s researchers also discovered a higher frequency of suicide attempts among transgender youth who are dissatisfied with their weight.
The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 29, 2016 


Connect, communicate and care on World Suicide Prevention Day

On September 10th, join with others around the world who are working towards the common goal of preventing suicide. Check in on someone you may be concerned about, and start a caring conversation with them, asking them how they’re going. Investigate ways of connecting with others who are trying to prevent suicide in your community, your country, or internationally. Show your support by taking part in the International Association for Suicide Prevention’s Cycle Around the Globe.
European Alliance Against Depression, August 26, 2016


Golden Gate Bridge suicide data show more youth consider jumping

Disturbing new data from the Golden Gate Bridge show there has been a fivefold increase in the number of young people who come to the span to consider ending their lives.

The number of people 24 years old and younger coming to the span to commit suicide went from nine in 2000 to 43 in 2014 and the figure is likely to go higher this year, officials cautioned Friday as the bridge board heard a presentation on the difficult subject that has vexed the structure’s officials since it opened in 1937.
Marin Independent Journal, August 26, 2016


Preventing teen suicide: Where to turn for support

Since 2009, nine young people between the ages of 9 and 17 committed suicide in Mahoning County

WKBNEvery year, coroners investigate at least one teen suicide in the Mahoning Valley. Another family that has to deal with unbelievable loss and another school district that brings in counselors to help classmates cope with the tragedy.

Dr. Joseph Ohr with the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office is one of the people who has to make sense of these deaths. “No one likes to talk about suicide. No one likes to think their friend or family member would commit suicide,” he said.
WKBN, August 25, 2016


Largest study of veteran suicide reveals more precise information

The Department of Veterans Affairs released analysis of the most comprehensive research of veteran suicide rates in the U.S., examining over 55 million Veteran records from 1979 to 2014 from every state in the nation. The effort extends VA’s knowledge from the previous report issued in 2010, which examined three million veteran records from 20 states.  Based on the data from 2010, VA estimated the number of veteran deaths by suicide averaged 22 per day.  The current analysis indicates that in 2014, an average of 20 veterans a day died from suicide.
DAV, August 24, 2016


Pediatricians can help identify suicidal teens

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated guidelines advising pediatricians how to identify and help teenagers at risk for suicide. The group wants pediatricians to screen patients for suicidal thoughts and risk factors for suicide, such as bullying. Dr. Kim Cass, chair of pediatrics at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, said that at-risk teens regularly come to the emergency department, and she calls it a “serious epidemic for our youth.
The Baltimore Sun, August 24, 2016


Survivors of First Attempt at High Risk for Later Suicide

A first suicide attempt is an even greater risk factor for a completed suicide than previously appreciated, and the great majority of completed suicides occur within a year of the first attempt, a new cohort study shows.

The findings suggest that first suicide attempts may be “even more lethal than we knew,” the authors state in the article’s title. However, it appeared that hospitalization following the attempt, as well as a scheduled follow-up visit with a psychiatrist significantly, reduced that risk.
Medscape, August 23, 2016


The Scariest Part About America’s LGBTQ Suicide Epidemic Is What We Don’t Know About It

On August 12, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released results from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBS), a biannual poll designed to monitor high school student health. For the first time ever, states and schools were given the option to include questions about respondents’ sexuality. Twenty-five states and 19 large urban school districts chose to do so, and as such, the survey marked the first nationally representative census of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth health in America…

Perhaps most shocking was the data pertaining to suicide: Some 29.4 percent of LGB students tried to kill themselves in 2015, almost five times as many as straight students. And 42.8 percent experienced some form of suicidal ideation.
VICE, August 23, 2016


Teen suicide attempts increase a ‘staggering’ 143 per cent

A 143 per cent increase in attempted suicides by local youth is such an “alarming” finding it requires immediate priority action, a just-released mental health profile of the region concludes.“A very staggering increase,” is how epidemiologist Mackenzie Slifierz described the rising number of hospital emergency department visits by young people between the ages of 10 and 19 for intentional self-harm injuries, documented in his 2010-15 Windsor-Essex County Health Unit report.
Windsor Star, August 22, 2016


Pittsburgh researchers may have found ‘cure’ for some untreatable depression

Ben Finder remembers when the depression first hit him. It was three years ago when he was 13, a happy and energetic eighth-grader in Obama Middle School in Pittsburgh.

“The first sign, I noticed that every few days I’d get this feeling that came over me of nothingness,” Ben recalled this past week. “It’s kind of hard to describe, but I didn’t think it was a big deal at the time.”

He did not tell his parents until a few months later, when the feelings of nothingness grew to include thoughts of committing suicide. Those thoughts became overwhelming. The illness would consume his and his parents’ lives over the next year as doctors had Ben try different drugs, different therapies, with several stays in mental health hospitals, all in a search for help that seemed increasingly unlikely to come.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, August 22, 2016


#ITSOKAYTOTALK Seeks to Raise Suicide Awareness Among Men

Every year, more than 42,000 Americans die by suicide. If you see a selfie that looks like this in your newsfeed, it’s because your friend wants you to know it’s OK to talk.

Men around the world are sharing photos of themselves making the OK hand symbol to raise suicide awareness, as men are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than women. Now men want others to know it’s OK to speak up about mental illness.
The Mighty, August 22, 2016


‘IT’S A SPIRALLING SITUATION’ The rural town where 100 young people have tried to commit suicide since September

Last October a 13-year-old girl hanged herself – and since then more than 100 of Attawapiskat’s 2,000 First Nation people, most of them teenagers, have also tried to kill themselves.
The Sun, August 21, 2016


A new report shows Oklahoma’s suicide rate is 37 percent higher than the national average, but last week the state cut $300,000 from the suicide hotline program.

The Oklahoma City-County Health Department reports suicide rates rose from 12 per 100,000 people in 2010 to 16.6 per 100,000 by 2013. As funding decreases, advocates say now it is more important than ever to “Silence The Stigma” of mental illness in an effort to save lives.
News9.com, August 21, 2016


A Suicidologist’s New Challenge: The George Washington Bridge

For the past 30 years, Dr. Gould has plumbed the depths of despair, searching for ways to prevent what has exploded into one of the most significant public health threats facing young people: suicide. She is one of the country’s leading experts in its prevention and causes, and her research undergirds much of the modern thinking on the topic, including the phenomenon of suicide contagion…

She is also adamant about what she considers the most powerful deterrent of all: depriving people at particular risk of killing themselves of access to the means for doing so. She has urged the authorities to put barriers on bridges and other buildings, something that copious amounts of research show is effective.
The New York Times, August 19, 2016


Suicide attempts and behavioral correlates among a nationally representative sample of school-attending adolescents in the Republic of Malawi

Suicide is among the top causes of adolescent mortality worldwide. While correlates of suicidal behavior are better understood and delineated in upper-income countries, epidemiologic knowledge of suicidal behavior in low-income countries remains scant, particularly in the African continent. The present study sought to add to the epidemiologic literature on suicidal behavior in Africa by examining the behavioral correlates of suicide attempts among Malawi adolescents.
BioMed Central, August 19, 2016


Nation’s Largest Suicide Prevention Organization Launches Suicide Prevention and Firearm Pilot Program

Pilot Program Supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Project 2025 Goal to Reduce the Annual Suicide Rate 20 Percent by 2025.

According to recently released data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of all suicides were by firearm in 2014, and suicide accounted for almost two-thirds of gun fatalities in the same year. In addition, 90 percent of suicide attempts with a firearm are fatal. To help stem this  loss of life, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the nation’s largest suicide prevention organization, is working with representatives from local gun shops, shooting ranges and hunting clubs to educate retailers and the firearm-owning community on suicide prevention and firearms.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Aug. 17, 2016


How work can lead to suicide in a globalised economy

A Paris prosecutor recently called for the former CEO and six senior managers of telecoms provider, France Télécom, to face criminal charges for workplace harassment. The recommendation followed a lengthy inquiry into the suicides of a number of employees at the company between 2005 and 2009. The prosecutor accused management of deliberately “destabilising” employees and creating a “stressful professional climate” through a company-wide strategy of “harcèlement moral” – psychological bullying.
The Conversation, August 16, 2016


GPs’ uncertainty at dealing with those bereaved by suicide revealed

Interviews carried out by The University of Manchester with GPs of parents whose children have died by suicide have revealed a lack of knowledge and confidence on how best to respond to and support those bereaved.

The new study, published in the British Journal of General Practice, explored GPs’ experiences and perceived needs (emotional, practical and training) when caring for parents bereaved by suicide.
Science Daily, August 15, 2016


Prescription drug abuse tied to increased risk of teen suicide

Suicide is a leading cause of death for teens worldwide, and the odds of suicide attempts may be higher when adolescents abuse prescription drugs, a Chinese study suggests.
Reuters, August 15, 2016


A Bullied Staten Island Boy Commits Suicide: Daniel wrote in heartbreaking letter that nobody did anything to help him

A life ended tragically when nobody was there to help a 13-year-old boy from Staten Island, Daniel Fitzpatrick, who was repeatedly bullied at school. He was constantly made fun of because of his weight, as well as his grades at school, but when he begged for help, nobody did anything at Holy Angels Catholic Academy in Staten Island, the boy mentioned in his letter.
Inquisitr, August 14, 2016


Military suicide rate ‘a national shame’ as 41 take own lives since start of 2016

Grieving families accuse Australian defence force and Department of Veterans’ Affairs of inadequate support
The Guardian, August 13, 2016


Queer teens are four times more likely to commit suicide, CDC reports

First nationally representative study of queer youth confirms health differencesGay and bisexual high schoolers are four times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year than their straight classmates, according to the first nationally representative study of queer youth. The new Centers for Disease Control report confirms health differences between LGB and straight teens: far more of the former experience the negative health measures, the study tracks — from physical violence to poor mental health to injecting drugs.
The Verve, August 11, 2016 


Suicide Risk May Rise in People Hospitalized with Infections

People who are hospitalized for infections may face an increased risk of dying from suicide, according to a new study that may suggest a biological basis for some suicidal behavior.
Live Science, August 10, 2016 


US Veterans’ Suicide Rate Rose 32% Since 2001: Official Data

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Suicide Prevention released a report Wednesday that showed suicide rate among veterans in the country went up by 32 percent from 2001 to 2014. The increase in the suicide rate was a lot more marked among veterans who do not use Veterans Health Administration (VHA) services, especially among female veterans, the report noted.
International Business Times, August 8, 2016


New Clues to Depression Spotted in the Genome: Investigators identify the bad lines of genetic code that may lead to the disease

The battle against depression has always been something of a rearguard action. You can’t prevent it; you can’t really cure it. The best you can do is battle it, often through a lifetime of cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps manage symptoms, and psychotropic medications, which improve mood by manipulating neurotransmitters like serotonin. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t.
Time, August 1, 2016


July, 2016


Maryland’s top educators focus on teen suicide: Youth Risk Behavior Survey gives insight on high school students’ feelings
WBALTV, July 26, 2016


Fact Check, Gun Control and Suicide: Statistics do not support a connection between gun control and US suicide rates
Psychology Today, July 24, 2016


U.S. Suicide Rate for People with Epilepsy Exceeds Levels in General Population

Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control studied the prevalence of suicide among people with epilepsy compared to the population overall and estimated that the annual suicide mortality rate among those with epilepsy was 22 percent higher than in the general population. Results are online in the journal Epilepsy and Behavior.
Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, July 22, 2016


Does Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Actually Change the Way the Brain Works? 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a treatment that focuses on helping patients to better manage their emotions, and develop skills to cope with problems and negative feelings. A primary aim is to lead the patient to stop or reduce behavior that is harmful. DBT was initially created for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD), and its effectiveness has been proven multiple times with that population.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, July 2016


Why are doctors plagued by depression and suicide? A crisis comes into focus
STAT, July 21, 2016


CDC releases preliminary findings on Palo Alto suicide clusters

In light of the recent suicides of several Palo Alto teens, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began an epidemiological study in February 2016 that investigated previous youth suicide clusters. Last week, the CDC released preliminary findings of their study, which revealed that mental health problems, recent crises and problems at school were major factors in the suicides of the 232 youths throughout Santa Clara County the CDC investigated.
The Stanford Daily, July 21, 2016


Screening for suicide risk among publicly insured urban children who are experiencing psychological distress is vitally important, finds a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
Science Daily, July 20, 2016


Risk of suicide among OCD patients much higher than previously thought. Patients with OCD are 10 times more likely to commit suicide, contrary to what was previously thought. In a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, is also shown that the main predictor of suicide in OCD patients is a previous suicide attempt, which offers opportunities for prevention.

News Medical, July 19, 2016


The math behind our suicide and guns calculations: In a story today we analyze the relationship between the availability of firearms in the United States and suicide rates. Our main finding is that the suicide rate would likely decline significantly if guns weren’t used so widely by Americans to take their own lives.
The Washington Post, July 13, 2016 


Suicide rate is 22% higher among people with epilepsy than the general population
Science Daily, July 12, 2016


U.S. Veterans Commit Suicide at Rate of 20 a Day, VA Says: Twenty military veterans commit suicide every day in the U.S., according to new statistics released Thursday by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Wall Street Journal, July 7, 2016


CDC: Latina Teenage Girls At Highest Risk For Attempting Suicide In U.S.

A new survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that 15 percent of Latina teenagers have attempted suicide, and 25 percent have thought about it.
Houston Public Media, July 5, 2016


The effects of patient suicide on general practitioners

Suicide is a major health problem. In England, around 5,000 people end their own lives annually – that is one death every two hours and at least ten times that number of attempts, according to the Office for National Statistics. Suicide is a tragedy that is life-altering for those bereaved and can be an upsetting event for the community and local services involved.
Oxford University Press, July 5, 2016


Utah officials unsure why youth suicide rate has nearly tripled since 2007

Utah health officials are grappling with a rising youth suicide rate that’s nearly tripled since 2007 and is now the leading cause of death among 10- to 17-year-olds in Utah. A state report released this month shows Utah’s youth suicide was 8.5 per 100,000 people in 2014, the most recent data available.

In 2007, the rate was 3.0 per 100,000.

Health officials, suicide prevention advocates and educators have been working to curb suicides, but officials don’t know why Utah’s child suicide rate is more than double the national rate and climbing.
The Salt Lake Tribune, July 2, 2016


Girl who texted boyfriend urging suicide must stand trial, court rules 

Massachusetts’ highest court has ruled that a teenage girl must stand trial on a manslaughter charge for encouraging her boyfriend to kill himself by sending him dozens of text messages and telling him to “get back in” a truck filled with carbon monoxide fumes.
WFXT – Boston, July 2, 2016


Suicide Rates by Occupational Group — 17 States, 2012
In 2012, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death among persons aged ≥16 years in the United States, with approximately 40,000 suicide deaths.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 1, 2016


Suicide Prevention Resources Center
Resources and Programs, July 1, 2015