Weekly News Roundup Mar. 23-28, 2024

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Suicide prevention in military and RCMP communities: where do families fit in? – Hill Times
March 14, 2024
**Paywall** Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP Veterans have an increase risk of suicide compared to the general population. In this opinion article, Fardous Hosseiny and Laryssa Lamrock of the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families discuss the importance of comprehensive support for Veterans and their families to prevent suicide. Centre for Suicide Prevention and Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families recently released a suite of suicide prevention resources for Veterans and their families.

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Sexual Violence and Suicide Risk among LGBTQ+ Young People – The Trevor Project
March 27, 2024
New research from the Trevor Project has found that LGBTQ+ youth experience significantly higher rates of sexual violence than the general population. The Trevor Project says that the research suggests “the need for LGBTQ+-inclusive sexual violence prevention services for middle and high school-aged youth…” They also say that, based on findings, “mental health practitioners working with LGBTQ+ young people must be well-versed in screening for and treating trauma resulting from sexual violence.” They acknowledge that “more research is needed to understand the causes for LGBTQ+ young people’s elevated risk of experiencing sexual violence.”

Young Black men are dying by suicide at alarming rates – University of Georgia
March 26, 2024
A new study has found that 1 in 3 Black men living in rural areas in the US have reported suicide ideation or thoughts of death in the past two weeks. Researchers also found that childhood experiences of trauma, deprivation, and racism significantly affected the mental health of participants as adults. Study co-author Michael Curtis said, “We found when Black men were exposed to childhood adversity, they may develop an internal understanding of the world as somewhere they are devalued, where they could not trust others, and they could not engage the community in a supportive way. Engaging with social support is critical for young Black men who experience many challenges to success.” Curtis also notes, “Historically, research has not invested a lot of time and effort in looking into what are the unique cultural contexts that make certain men more at risk for suicidal thoughts than other men.”

AI and Suicide Prevention in Primary Care: A Q&A – MedScape
March 22, 2024
This Q and A article discusses AI and suicide prevention in primary care, including different methods for using AI in primary care settings, as well as how doctors can leverage technology to extend mental health support to patients.

Nex Benedict: Oklahoma teenager died by suicide, autopsy says – BBC
March 14, 2024
Oklahoma’s chief medical examiner has found that the death of Nex Benedict, 16, a non-binary student from Oklahoma, was a suicide. Benedict used they/them pronouns and had been involved in a fight in their school’s bathrooms the day before they died. Benedict told police in a statement following the fight that they and their friends were being bullied before the fight “because of the way that we dress.” Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a Twitter post, “The Medical Examiner’s finding of suicide makes me even more concerned that bullying played a role in this terrible loss.” American President Joe Biden said in a statement, “Every young person deserves to have the fundamental right and freedom to be who they are, and feel safe and supported at school and in their communities.”