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Announcements
New customized information for foster parents
SPRC has released a new resource in its series of online customized pages:
"What Foster Parents Can Do to Prevent Suicide." Although suicide can strike any family, youth in foster care are at higher risk for attempting or seriously considering
suicide. "What Foster Parents Can Do" provides background information and additional resources - publications, websites, and organizations - that may be particularly useful for foster parents, as well as general resources on suicide prevention. The series
was created to help people in a variety of social roles and occupations recognize and respond to individuals who may be at risk for suicide.
For more
information
SPRC has an immediate opening for a prevention specialist
The person filling this position will be part of an eight-person team providing technical assistance to Garrett Lee Smith Memorial
Act grantees, statewide suicide prevention coalitions, and other constituents, and will serve as a topic expert in work with institutions of higher education. Experience in prevention or health promotion work in institutions of higher education is required.
For more
information
HHS unveils Healthy People 2020
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled Healthy People 2020, the new 10-year agenda for improving the Nation's health. Objectives of interest to the suicide prevention community include reducing the rate of suicide for the U.S. population,
reducing suicide attempts among adolescents, ensuring that students from elementary through college receive information on suicide; increasing mental health screening by primary care practitioners, and increasing access to mental health care throughout the
lifespan. HHS is also promoting a challenge for technology application developers to create a "myHealthyPeople" app. The goal of the app is to create an innovative approach to help communities track their progress using Healthy People objectives and targets.
For more
information
Massachusetts DPH sponsors webinar
Young Black Men and Suicide Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET
Presenter Emmanuel Daphnis, director of Operation Make A Difference, Inc., will identify and discuss the risk factors that contribute to
the current suicide trends within the black male community. The presentation will also explore homicide as a form of indirect suicide. Space is limited.
For
more information
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National
News
Study:
Female vets especially vulnerable to suicide
NPR
The first large-scale study to look specifically at the issue of female veterans and suicide has just been published in the journal Psychiatric
Services. Portland State University researcher Mark Kaplan compared the suicide rate among female veterans and female civilians and found that in general, female veterans were much more likely than female civilians to die by suicide. This was particularly
true for young female veterans ages 18 to 34, who were three times as likely as their civilian peers to die by suicide. "When we think of suicide, and suicide completion, I don't think we often think of women enough," said Kaplan.
Spark Extra! Read "Self-inflicted
deaths among women with U.S. military service: A hidden epidemic?"
For
LGBT teens, acceptance is critical
CNN
Family acceptance seems to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual (LGBT) youth against suicidal thoughts and behaviors, according
to a new study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. The survey of self-identified LGBT young adults also found that non-heterosexual youth whose parents are accepting of their sexual orientation are also less likely to suffer
from depression or substance abuse. "Imagine trying to put up a persona during the day, so you're not bullied by your peers," explained adolescent psychologist Russell Hyken. "To be able to come home and be who you are has got to make all the difference in
the world to these kids."
Spark Extra! Read the full
text of the article "Family
acceptance in adolescence and the health of LGBT young adults"
U.S.
suicide in national parks studied
United Press International
An average of 41 suicides or attempted suicides per year occurred in U.S national parks between 2003 and 2009, according to a study of
suicides in national parks just published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the report, "Based on findings in this report and strategies proven effective for suicide prevention, two main approaches are recommended to help prevent
suicides in national parks: strategies in which parks collaborate with community prevention programs to gain increased access to resources, guidance, and training and site-specific suicidal behavior interventions, such as barriers or restrictions to access."
Spark Extra! Read about
suicides in national parks in the United States, 2003 - 2009
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State
and Tribal News
California
Riverside
county: Suicide attempts high among teens
The [California] Press-Enterprise
This article includes 10-year data for suicide attempts requiring hospitalization among youth in Riverside County and San Bernardino County.
The data came to light when Riverside County Department of Public Health researchers were preparing a report on maternal and child health. "We weren't specifically looking at teen suicide attempts when we prepared the report," said Riverside County epidemiologist
Marshare Penny. "We were looking at all things associated with being a mom, child and teen. I was amazed it was so high." The Riverside County public and mental health departments provide workshops and programs that help youth learn to manage stress and cope
with depression and trauma.
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International
News
Global
Internet
helps, but also hurts, suicide prevention efforts
LiveScience
A new article in the journal Lancet looks at the influence of the internet, both positive and negative, on people at risk for suicide. The article's author, Lancet senior editor
Niall Boyce, cites three main ways in which the internet could potentially increase suicide: by acting as a vehicle for online bullies; by allowing access to forums where suicide is discussed; and by spreading news of suicide, potentially leading to suicide
contagion. On the other hand, the internet can also play a role in helping to prevent suicide. A study published in British Medical Journal in 2008 found that while nearly a fifth of suicide-related websites promote suicide, about a quarter of such sites offer
support and counseling help for people contemplating suicide. According to Professor Stephen Platt of Edinburgh University, "banning [suicide] forums is arguably not the way to go." Instead, Platt says, researchers should use them to learn more about what
motivates people who are seeking advice on how to die by suicide, in order to create more effective prevention strategies. "We shouldn't be concerned about only the negative effects [of the internet]," according to Platt. "The positive potential has hardly
been tapped."
Spark Extra! Read the
Lancet
article
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