ADHD Raises Adult Suicide Risk, Especially for Women

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• December 29, 2020
• Full Page

Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a strikingly high prevalence of attempted suicide, with women being at particular risk, researchers say.

The study of nearly 22,000 Canadian adults found that 14% of those with ADHD had attempted suici...

Counseling on Gun Safety Could Cut Suicide Rate in Military: Study

• Cara Murez
• December 29, 2020
• Full Page

When U.S. military personnel get gun locks and counseling on safe storage of their weapons, they store those guns safely, and that could be key to lowering the military suicide rate, researchers report.

"Suicide mortality is higher in homes with a firearm and the majorit...

Pandemic Tied to Higher Suicide Rate in Blacks, Lowered Rate in Whites: Study

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• December 17, 2020
• Full Page

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated racial divides in health care in numerous ways, and a new study reveals yet another: Suicides among Black people doubled during COVID-19 lockdowns, while suicides in white individuals were cut in half during the same period.

"In p...

Loneliness Continues to Rise for Americans Under Lockdown

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• December 15, 2020
• Full Page

Loneliness, particularly among folks under shelter-in-place orders, is a growing issue for Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, new research finds.

More people report they are feeling lonely, depressed and even harboring thoughts of suicide as COVID-19 cases in the...

329 Americans Are Injured by Guns Every Day: Study

• Cara Murez
• December 11, 2020
• Full Page

Firearm injury is a major health crisis in the United States and new research sheds more light on how many of those who are injured survive and the circumstances of their shootings.

For the study, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University an...

Rap Music Is Putting Mental Health in the Spotlight

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• December 8, 2020
• Full Page

Beat-heavy rap music could help beat mental illness: Over the past two decades, the lyrics of the most popular songs in rap have increasingly hit on issues related to anxiety, depression and mental health, a new study reveals.

"I think anyone who's been a fan of rap musi...

Young Epilepsy Patients May Benefit From Mental Health Screening

• Robert Preidt
• December 4, 2020
• Full Page

Depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts are more common in children and teens with epilepsy than previously known, and they should be screened for such problems, researchers report.

They assessed 119 children and teens, aged 9 to18, with epilepsy. None had been diagnos...

More Childbearing Women Having Suicidal Thoughts: Study

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• November 20, 2020
• Full Page

The number of women who contemplate suicide or self-harm during or after pregnancy may be on the rise, a large, new study suggests.

Among nearly 600,000 U.S. childbearing women, researchers found that close to 2,700 were diagnosed with suicidality in the year before or a...

Disasters Leave a Rise in Suicides in Their Wake: Study

• Cara Murez
• November 20, 2020
• Full Page

Hurricanes, tornadoes and other major disasters can cause more damage than devastation to property, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that the severe emotional distress and anxiety for those who have lived through major disasters can also lead to suicide.

The...

Buying Gun During Pandemic Might Raise Suicide Risk

• Steven Reinberg
• November 17, 2020
• Full Page

Those who buy guns as the pandemic rages are more likely to be suicidal than those who already own firearms, a new study finds.

In fact, among people who bought guns during the pandemic, about 70% reported having suicidal thoughts, while just 37% of other gun owners had ...

Could Propecia Up Young Men's Suicide Risk?

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• November 12, 2020
• Full Page

Young men who consider using the drug Propecia to prevent baldness may be putting themselves at risk for depression and suicide, a new study suggests.

Information from the World Health Organization indicates that over the past 10 years, reports of suicidal ideation among...

'Diseases of Despair' Skyrocket in America

• Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter
• November 10, 2020
• Full Page

Even before the coronavirus pandemic began, Americans were already suffering: A new study reports that alcohol and drug misuse were up dramatically, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors were up 170% between 2009 and 2018.

Researchers call these conditions "diseases of des...

Money Worries Raise Suicide Risk in People With ADHD: Study

• Robert Preidt
• October 5, 2020
• Full Page

There's a link between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), financial stress and suicide risk, a new study suggests.

Researchers analyzed data on ADHD and suicide in Sweden from 2002 to 2015, as well as credit and default data from a random sample of more...

During Stress of Pandemic, Know Suicide's Warning Signs

• Robert Preidt
• September 29, 2020
• Full Page

Financial struggles, social isolation and anxiety are triggering feelings of hopelessness and helplessness during the COVID-19 pandemic, so it's important to know the warning signs when someone is contemplating suicide, an expert says.

A U.S. Centers for Disease Con...

Is Shock Therapy Making a Comeback Against Bipolar Disorder?

• Alan Mozes
• September 25, 2020
• Full Page

Over the years electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) -- commonly known as "shock therapy" -- has gotten a bad rap.

But new research out of Italy suggests that reputation may be unwarranted. Investigators found that among bipolar patients who fail to respond to standard tre...

Suicide Rate Keeps Rising Among Young Americans

• Steven Reinberg
• September 11, 2020
• Full Page

A nearly 60% jump in suicides by young Americans since 2007 has experts alarmed and somewhat puzzled.

Suicides among children and young people aged 10 to 24 rose 57% from 2007 to 2018, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Pr...

As Jobless Rates Climb, Study Finds Financial Stress Greatly Ups Suicide Risk

• Cara Roberts Murez
• September 3, 2020
• Full Page

As millions of people struggle with economic hardships during the coronavirus pandemic, a new study shows that financial stressors may make people up to 20 times more likely to attempt suicide.

The research suggests that mental health providers should consider financ...

Workplace Sexual Harassment Might Raise Suicide Risk: Study

• Robert Preidt
• September 3, 2020
• Full Page

In the midst of the 'Me Too' movement, a new study finds that people sexually harassed at work may be at increased risk for attempted suicide and suicide.

The findings out of Sweden show that workplace sexual harassment may "represent an important risk factor for sui...

With Tighter Handgun Laws, U.S. Would See Fewer Suicides by Young People

• Robert Preidt
• July 23, 2020
• Full Page

Hundreds of suicides could be prevented in the United States each year if the minimum age for buying a handgun was raised to 21 in the 33 states that have a minimum age of 18, according to a new study.

Suicide rates, especially among teens, have been rising in the Un...

Many LGBTQ Youth Suffer From Mental Health Woes

• Steven Reinberg
• July 21, 2020
• Full Page

As many as 40% of LGBTQ youth and more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth contemplated taking their life in the past year, according to a new report.

Also, one in three LGBTQ youth said they had been threatened or harmed because of their sexual identit...

Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Leave a Mental Health Crisis in Its Wake?

• Dennis Thompson
• July 6, 2020
• Full Page

Stressed from home-schooling your kids? Lonely from lockdown? Worried about a sick loved one isolated in a nursing home? Worried you might lose your job?

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone's mental health in ways small and large, and experts are conc...

Suicide Rate 170 Times Higher for People With Schizophrenia

• Steven Reinberg
• June 23, 2020
• Full Page

People with schizophrenia have a suicide rate 170 times higher than the general population, Canadian researchers report.

The researchers looked at 20 years of population data, including information on 75,000 patients with schizophrenia. Each was followed for about 1...

Fewer Suicide-Related ER Visits in COVID Era, and That Has Experts Worried

• Amy Norton
• June 8, 2020
• Full Page

The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects, and a new study points to yet another: It may be keeping people from seeking emergency care for suicidal thoughts.

The study, at one large Ohio health system, found that ER visits for suicidal ideation dropped by ov...

When a Handgun Is in the Home, Suicide Risk Quickly Rises

• Amy Norton
• June 3, 2020
• Full Page

Handgun owners are at substantially heightened risk of suicide in the years after buying their first gun, a large new study finds.

The study of more than 26 million California residents found that first-time handgun owners were nearly four times more likely to die by...

Too Often, Bullying Has Lethal Consequences for LGBT Teens

• Alan Mozes
• May 26, 2020
• Full Page

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) youth who die by suicide are five times more likely to have been bullied than their straight counterparts.

The finding stems from a review of nearly 10,000 U.S. death records for 2003 to 2017. All of the youth were...

Mental Health is Big Issue For Police Officers Around The World: Study

• Robert Preidt
• May 22, 2020
• Full Page

Mental health problems and substance abuse are common among cops, and more needs to be done to address those issues, researchers say.

Previous studies have suggested that first responders have a higher risk of mental health issues than the general public, but it wasn...

Kids' ER Visits for Mental Health Problems Soared Over 10 Years

• Steven Reinberg
• May 11, 2020
• Full Page

Children treated in America's emergency rooms for mental health disorders jumped 60% over a recent decade, a new study finds.

Between 2007 and 2016, visits for self-harm like suicidal thoughts and cutting soared 329% and treatment for drug abuse rose 159%...

COVID-19 Pandemic May Lead to 75,000 'Deaths of Despair'

• Serena Gordon
• May 8, 2020
• Full Page

COVID-19 has directly claimed tens of thousands of U.S. lives, but conditions stemming from the novel coronavirus -- rampant unemployment, isolation and an uncertain future -- could lead to 75,000 deaths from drug or alcohol abuse and suicide, new research suggests.

...

Religion Helps Protect Against 'Deaths of Despair': Study

• Steven Reinberg
• May 6, 2020
• Full Page

As the world reels from the coronavirus pandemic, researchers say religion may provide protection from so-called deaths of despair, new research suggests.

The study, conducted in 2018-2019, found that those who attend worship services once a week are less likely to ...

Sexual Victimization Persists in U.S. Military for LGBTQs: Study

• Robert Preidt
• May 4, 2020
• Full Page

Lesbian, gay and bisexual members in the U.S. military are at higher risk for sexual harassment, sexual assault and stalking, a new study reports.

And that sexual victimization can trigger mental health problems such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, sub...

As Coronavirus Pandemic Hits U.S., Experts Worry About Rise in Suicides

• Steven Reinberg
• April 15, 2020
• Full Page

With millions of Americans restricted to their homes and many losing their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, a spike in suicides may follow, experts fear.

At a time when suicide in America has been increasing, many of the effects of social distancing are known su...

Transgender Teens Have High Rates of Depression, Suicidal Thoughts

• Robert Preidt
• April 10, 2020
• Full Page

Depression, suicidal thoughts and self-injury are common among U.S. transgender teens, new research shows.

The study also found that hormone therapy leads to significant improvements in gender dysphoria -- the feeling of being uncomfortable with the gender they were ...

U.S. Suicide Rate Climbed 35% in Two Decades

• Steven Reinberg
• April 8, 2020
• Full Page

The U.S. suicide rate has jumped 35% in the past two decades, health officials reported Wednesday.

From 1999 to 2018, the suicide rate rose from 10.5 to 14 per 100,000, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How Pets Can Be True Lifesavers for Seniors

• Serena Gordon
• April 3, 2020
• Full Page

Having a furry, fluffy or feathered friend can have a profound effect on seniors' mental health, possibly even helping prevent some suicides, new research suggests.

In a group of 35 older people who were pet owners, more than one-third said they were "actively suici...

When Relatives Get Deported, Hispanic Teens' Mental Health Tanks

• Robert Preidt
• March 20, 2020
• Full Page

U.S. immigration policies may put Hispanic teens' mental and physical health at risk, researchers say.

Of 547 U.S.-born Hispanic kids surveyed in Atlanta, one-quarter had a parent, aunt, uncle or other family member who was detained or deported in 2017 or 2018. Parti...

Celebrity Suicides Spawn 'Copycat' Tragedies, Study Shows

• Amy Norton
• March 19, 2020
• Full Page

When the media report on a celebrity's suicide, especially in a sensationalist way, it may fuel "copycat" tragedies, a new review finds.

In an analysis of 20 studies from more than a dozen countries, researchers confirmed a phenomenon sometimes called "suicide contag...

Suicidal Thoughts Among Young Kids Higher Than Believed

• Dennis Thompson
• March 13, 2020
• Full Page

Suicidal thoughts have haunted nearly one of every 10 pre-teens in the United States, a new study reveals.

About 8.4% of children aged 9 or 10 said they'd temporarily or regularly harbored thoughts of suicide, researchers report.

Importantly, only aroun...

AHA News: People With Implanted Heart Pumps May Have Higher Suicide Risk

• March 10, 2020
• Full Page

People with a left ventricular assist device, a mechanical pump that helps the heart, might face a higher suicide risk, new research suggests.

LVADs are used to treat advanced heart failure, where a weakened heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Th...

Shotguns Often Play Tragic Role in Rural Teens' Suicides: Study

• Robert Preidt
• February 18, 2020
• Full Page

Could stricter safety rules for rifles and shotguns help prevent suicide?

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore analyzed nearly 4,000 firearm suicides and found that long guns, not handguns, are more often the method of choice for youths and people in ru...

1 in 4 Opioid ODs Involves Kids and Teens

• Alan Mozes
• February 18, 2020
• Full Page

More than a quarter of all opioid overdoses in the United States involve teenagers, and a full fifth of those cases were likely suicide attempts, new research shows.

The findings follow an in-depth analysis of nearly 754,000 American opioi...

'Tough Guys' May Be at Especially High Risk for Suicide

• Amy Norton
• February 13, 2020
• Full Page

Young men who believe that "real men don't cry" may be more prone to suicide, a new study suggests.

It has long been known that men are more likely than women to end their own lives: In the United States, the suicide death rate among men is about 3.5 times that of wo...

Fewer LGBT Teens Plagued by Suicidal Thoughts, But Rates Still High

• Amy Norton
• February 10, 2020
• Full Page

Suicidal behavior is declining among U.S. teenagers who identify as LGBT, but the problem remains pervasive.

That's the conclusion of two new studies that tracked trends among U.S. teenagers over the past couple of decades. Over the years, more kids have been identif...

Nurses May Need Suicide-Prevention Screening

• Robert Preidt
• February 6, 2020
• Full Page

Nurses are at elevated risk for suicide, but the issue gets little attention, researchers report.

Their study of 2005-2016 U.S. government data found the suicide rate among female nurses was significantly higher (10 per 100,000) than that of the general female popula...

U.S. Spends Trillions on Health Care, But Health Stats Remain Low: Study

• Robert Preidt
• January 31, 2020
• Full Page

Despite spending far more on health care than other wealthy nations, the United States has the lowest life expectancy and the highest suicide rate, new research shows.

For the study, researchers at The Commonwealth Fund compared the United States with 10 other high-i...

Number of Americans Headed to ER for Suicidal Thoughts, Self-Harm Keeps Rising

• Steven Reinberg
• January 30, 2020
• Full Page

Men and women are flooding America's emergency rooms because of suicidal thoughts and injuries caused by harming themselves, federal health officials reported Thursday.

In fact, these types of emergency room visits shot up 25.5% from 2017 to 2018, according to th...

Poverty Could Drive Up Youth Suicide Risk

• Robert Preidt
• January 27, 2020
• Full Page

New research shows that children and teens in U.S. areas with greater levels of poverty face a higher risk of suicide.

"Our findings suggest that community poverty is a serious risk factor for youth suicide, which should help target prevention efforts," said lead stu...

Is Suppressing Puberty the Right Course When a Child Questions Their Gender?

• Dennis Thompson
• January 27, 2020
• Full Page

Suppressing puberty in a child who's questioning their gender identity might seem extreme, but the therapy is relatively safe and could significantly lower their risk of suicide, a new study reports.

Adolescents who wanted and received puberty suppression were 60%...

Parents Can Help Their Sleep-Deprived Teens

• Steven Reinberg
• January 15, 2020
• Full Page

Mom and dad may be key in curbing the epidemic of drowsy teens, a new study suggests.

American teens aren't getting enough sleep, which can lead to anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Sleepy teens also are more likely to get into car crashes and have a greate...

As Minimum Wage Rises, Suicide Rates Fall

• Dennis Thompson
• January 8, 2020
• Full Page

Minimum wage laws can be a literal lifesaver for people who are struggling to get by, a new study suggests.

The suicide rate declines among less-educated folks when the minimum wage is increased, researchers discovered.

States experience as much as a 6%...

Opioids May Not Be to Blame for Rise in U.S. Suicides

• Robert Preidt
• December 17, 2019
• Full Page

In a finding that suggests most opioid overdose deaths are accidental, new research shows suicide is associated with far fewer of these deaths than thought.

"Our findings suggest that the current emphasis on the contribution of suicide to opioid-related deaths may be...