Every day we scan news headlines and social media for items of interest to the field of suicide prevention. Here’s what we found last week:

Study identifies genetic risks for suicide death in individuals with bipolar disorderEurekAlert!
July 8, 2021
A new study has found that people with bipolar disorder who are exposed to significant trauma may have an increased risk of suicide. This research suggests that clinical diagnosis of or genetic predisposition to trauma-related conditions are important factors in considering suicide risk in those with bipolar disorder.  “There are many factors that go into increased risk for suicide–genetics is one of them,” says Willour, a professor of psychiatry in the UI Carver College of Medicine. “We want to understand what the risk factors are so we can move forward with better interventions and decrease the rates of suicide.” People with bipolar disorder have suicide rates 10 to 30 times higher than those in the general population.

Australian TikTok Star Caitlyn Loane Dies By Suicide At 19 Women’s Health
July 8, 2021
Caitlyn Loane, 19, died by suicide last week. Loane was known for sharing about her life on her family’s farm in northern Tasmania.  “She was a lovely, crazy young woman who was an invaluable member of our family,” said her father, Philip Loane.

Toronto police officer demoted for refusing to intervene in suicide, lying about being on another callToronto Star
July 6, 2021
*Graphic method warning, terminology warning* A Toronto police officer has been demoted in rank for two years after ‘serious’ misconduct. A citizen was trying to get the officer to help a young man from dying by suicide in a public park and the officer lied and said that he was on another call, leaving the scene, only to be dispatched to the scene formally. By the time he returned, the man had already died. “You told the citizen that you were on a call when, in fact, you were not. You drove out of the immediate area only to be detailed to the very call you attempted to avoid,” reads a summary of the allegations contained in a penalty decision released by Supt. Riyaz Hussein Tuesday.

Concerning Trends in Suicide Psychiatric Times
July 7, 2021
Preliminary Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicate a 5.6% decrease in the US suicide rate from 2019 to 2020. In 2019, there was a decrease of 2.6% in the suicide rate compared to 2018, marking the first two year downward trend in suicide rates in 20 years in the US. However, new data has found that, in the US, there has been an ‘absolute rise’ in young people presenting to emergency departments for suicidal behaviours, and especially young girls, 12-17. In Feb-Mar 2021, there was a 50% increase of young girls presenting for suicide attempt related concerns (which may also include self-harm) compared to Feb-Mar 2019. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says that there is more concerning data emerging, “In states that have done some analysis, for example, Connecticut and Maryland, we know that their suicide rates have gone down for 2020… however, they have done their analysis based on demographic groups and it is very concerning that for non-white populations in the states of Maryland and Connecticut, their suicide rates went up… We have (also) been very concerned as a field about the trends in Black youth suicide, Latinx adolescent suicidal behaviour… and of course very importantly, American Indian and Alaskan native suicide trends, which long before the pandemic hit, have been showing very concerning rises.”

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