News & Highlights

This section presents news and highlights from SPRC and the suicide prevention field. Use the filters on the left to find the following items:

  • Weekly Spark, SPRC’s online newsletter, containing brief news articles, research summaries, announcements, and funding opportunities. Subscribe to the Weekly Spark.
  • Director’s Corner, a monthly column by SPRC leadership and guest authors.
  • From the Field, innovative activities being implemented in states, communities, healthcare organizations, and other settings.

Displaying 64 results. Refine results using the filters on the left.

Weekly Spark

CALIFORNIA: Removing Cops from Behavioral Crisis Calls: “We Need to Change the Model”

December 11, 2020
NPR San Francisco is changing the way it responds to behavioral health crisis calls. Under a new program,  behavioral health-related...
Weekly Spark

Boosting Access to Mental Health Care during Pandemic and Beyond

December 11, 2020
AMA News Physician organizations are working to integrate primary and behavioral health care across the country. Physical and behavioral health...
Weekly Spark

Older Adults Should Pay Close Attention to Mental Health—Especially during Pandemic

December 11, 2020
Orlando Sentinel Older adults may struggle with their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. With decreased social interaction and physical activity, older...
Weekly Spark

How School Leaders Shift Suicide Prevention to the Virtual World

December 04, 2020
District Administration As many kids experience increased stress due to COVID-19 and racial inequity, experts recommend schools set up a...
Weekly Spark

How to Talk to Children about Suicide: An Age-by-Age Guide

December 04, 2020
TODAY Talking to kids about mental health and suicide can help them feel safe and supported. How should parents address...
Weekly Spark

Now’s the Time to Have a Difficult Talk about Physician Suicide

September 25, 2020
American Medical Association As recently highlighted on National Physician Suicide Awareness Day, physicians have one of the highest suicide rates of...
Weekly Spark

As Students Head Back to College, Virtually or In Person, Counseling Centers Hope to Provide Mental Health Support

August 28, 2020
The Washington Post College and university counseling centers are preparing to offer students extra mental health support this fall. In...
Weekly Spark

When Things Aren’t OK With a Child’s Mental Health

August 28, 2020
The New York Times As the school year starts, experts encourage parents to pay close attention to their kids’ mental...
Weekly Spark

Kids' Mental Health Can Struggle During Online School. Here's How Teachers Are Planning Ahead.

August 28, 2020
USA Today As many schools start the year remotely, some are making social and emotional learning a priority. Adjusting to...
Weekly Spark

“We're Looked at as Superhuman”: How Racism Affects Black Women’s Mental Health

August 21, 2020
TODAY African Americans are as likely to experience mental illness as other Americans but more likely to get poor or...
Weekly Spark

40 Percent of LGBTQ Youth “Seriously Considered” Suicide in Past Year, Survey Finds

August 21, 2020
NBC News A recent report highlights a critical need for increased efforts to support LGBTQ youth mental health. The report contains findings...
Weekly Spark

INTERNATIONAL: Brief Interventions Could Reduce Risk of Suicide

August 07, 2020
HCP Live A recent analysis found that brief interventions may prevent suicide attempts in patients at risk. Researchers looked at 14 studies...
Weekly Spark

For Older People, Despair, as Well as Covid-19, Is Costing Lives

August 07, 2020
The New York Times Physical isolation during COVID-19 may increase suicide risk among older adults. While those living in residential...
Weekly Spark

“Bear Our Pain”: The Plea for More Black Mental Health Workers

August 07, 2020
NPR As COVID-19 and police violence take a toll on Black communities, advocates are calling for more culturally competent mental...
Weekly Spark

Mental Health after COVID-19

July 24, 2020
Scientific American In an opinion piece, psychiatrists write that COVID-19 may lead to long-term innovations in mental health care. According...
Weekly Spark

Facing a Broken Mental Health System, Many U.S. Teens Fall Off a Dangerous “Cliff” in Their Care

July 24, 2020
STAT The transition from adolescence to adulthood can be a critical time for continuity in mental health care. Data suggest young...
Weekly Spark

INTERNATIONAL: The Effects of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Indigenous Communities

July 17, 2020
Medical News Today Indigenous communities are being disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from the U.S. and Canada show...
Weekly Spark

COVID-19 Adds to Challenges for LGBTQ Youth

July 17, 2020
American Heart Association News COVID-19 may add to the mental health challenges of LGBTQ young people. According to a recent report from...
Weekly Spark

For Stressed-Out Black Americans, Mental Health Care Often Hard to Come By

June 26, 2020
Medical Xpress Despite widespread stress and trauma, Black people may be less likely to receive mental health diagnoses. Experts say...
Weekly Spark

"We're Losing Our Kids": Black Youth Suicide Rate Rising Far Faster than for Whites; Coronavirus, Police Violence Deepen Trauma

June 26, 2020
USA Today Mental health advocates are calling for increased efforts to support Black youth. With suicide rates rising faster among...
Weekly Spark

COVID-19 and Suicide

June 19, 2020
Monitor on Psychology According to experts, mental health professionals can take the following key steps to reduce clients’ suicide risk...
Weekly Spark

Acceptance by Peers Reduced Risk of Suicide Attempts among API LGBTQ Youth, Report Finds

June 05, 2020
NBC News Acceptance by friends may help reduce suicide attempts among Asian Pacific Islander (API) LGBTQ youth. That is according...
Weekly Spark

Could COVID-19 Finally Destigmatize Mental Illness?

June 05, 2020
Time Magazine A recent piece in Time Magazine argues the COVID-19 pandemic may ultimately produce positive changes in mental health care. Author...
Weekly Spark

COVID-19: The Mental Health Impact on People of Color and Minority Groups

May 29, 2020
Medical News Today Racial and ethnic minorities may be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal data suggest people from...
Weekly Spark

Fear, Isolation, Depression: The Mental Health Fallout of a Worldwide Pandemic

May 29, 2020
Stateline Data from crisis services offer clues to how Americans are coping with COVID-19. Compared to this time last year,...
Weekly Spark

PENNSYLVANIA: These Philly Programs Are Connecting Restaurant Workers to Mental Health Resources

May 15, 2020
Eater Philly A Philadelphia nonprofit is helping to support restaurant workers during COVID-19. Founded in 2015, Cooks Who Care promotes...
Weekly Spark

INTERNATIONAL: Suicide Risk and Prevention during the COVID-19 Pandemic

May 15, 2020
The Lancet Psychiatry Experts recommend immediate action to prevent suicide during COVID-19. In a recent Lancet Psychiatry article, an international group of...
Weekly Spark

For Grocery Workers, the Need for Mental Health Care May Outlast Coronavirus Pandemic

May 08, 2020
CNBC People who work in grocery stores and pharmacies may have increased mental health needs during COVID-19. According to experts,...
Weekly Spark

I'm Worried about the Psychological Toll on Health Care Workers. They Need Help.

May 01, 2020
WBUR To help address the emotional toll of COVID-19 on health care workers, experts offer tips for coping. Support groups...
Weekly Spark

OHIO: Butler County Students Continue Fighting for Suicide Prevention from Their Homes

April 24, 2020
Journal-News A school-based suicide prevention program in Ohio has gone virtual. Members of the Lakota Hope Squad, a peer support...
Weekly Spark

Restricting Suicidal Patients' Access to Drugs with High Case Fatality Rates Vital to Suicide Prevention

April 24, 2020
Healio New research suggests limiting access to certain types of drugs may help prevent suicide among those at risk. Researchers used data...
Weekly Spark

COLORADO: Mental Health Care in Colorado Has Gone Virtual Thanks to Coronavirus. For Some Patients, It’s Long Overdue.

April 10, 2020
The Colorado Sun Colorado mental health providers are adapting to meet changing needs during COVID-19. Following guidance from state and...
Weekly Spark

WASHINGTON: Mental Health Experts Race to Help Children Cope with Stay-at-Home Life amid Coronavirus Closures

April 10, 2020
The Seattle Times To help kids cope during school closures, mental health professionals in Washington are offering virtual support. Some...
Weekly Spark

Coronavirus Outbreak Raises Threats to Mental Health

April 03, 2020
The Hill Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, crisis services are experiencing increased demand. Samaritans of Boston has reported...
Weekly Spark

Panic Attacks and Night Terrors: The Mental Health Toll of Coronavirus

April 03, 2020
HuffPost The stress and uncertainty of the coronavirus could pose long-term challenges, especially for those with mental health conditions. That...
Weekly Spark

VA Success Story—New Veterans Answering Calls Checking In

April 03, 2020
Military Times A unique program is connecting new veterans with support. Run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Solid...
Weekly Spark

MASSACHUSETTS: Students Often Struggle After a Mental Health Crisis. Can This Support System Help?

March 27, 2020
PBS News Hour A successful program for helping students re-enter school after absences for mental health care has been implemented...
Weekly Spark

CALIFORNIA: Marin Unveils First Countywide Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan

March 27, 2020
Marin Independent Journal Marin county’s first suicide prevention strategic plan is bringing together schools, hospitals, government agencies, and law enforcement...
Weekly Spark

Feeling Anxious about Coronavirus? There’s an App for That.

March 27, 2020
Vox Stress and anxiety caused by the coronavirus pandemic is vastly increasing the use of digital mental health tools, including...
Weekly Spark

Universities’ Response to Supporting Mental Health of College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

March 27, 2020
Psychiatric Times The combination of ways in which COVID-19 is uniquely impacting college and university students is leading to greater...
Weekly Spark

As Suicide Rates Climb, Crisis Centers Expand

March 20, 2020
Stateline Most people in a mental health- or drug-related crisis, who are picked up by law enforcement for a misdemeanor,...
Weekly Spark

Social Distancing Prevents Infections, But It Can Have Unintended Consequences

March 20, 2020
Science Magazine The social distancing needed to address the coronavirus pandemic does not come naturally to human beings. “The coronavirus...
Weekly Spark

INTERNATIONAL: Coronavirus: How to Protect Your Mental Health

March 20, 2020
BBC The unprecedented amount of uncertainty due to coronavirus and the constant news about it are taxing people’s mental health,...
Weekly Spark

ALASKA: Suicide Prevention Model Relies on Local Adaptation

March 06, 2020
Alaska Public Media A suicide prevention model implemented successfully with Alaska Native communities in the Northwest Arctic Borough is now...
Weekly Spark

Law Students Say They Don't Get Mental Health Treatment for Fear It Will Keep Them from Becoming Lawyers. Some States Are Trying to Change That.

March 06, 2020
CNN Some states are taking steps to reduce discrimination against law students with mental health conditions. To practice law, students...
Weekly Spark

INTERNATIONAL: Rail Suicides: A Joint Nordic Approach to Reduce Numbers

February 28, 2020
Nordic Labour Journal The Nordic Council Welfare Committee has released a proposal for preventing suicide in the region. The proposal...
Weekly Spark

Nurses May Need Suicide Prevention Screening

February 28, 2020
HealthDay According to a recent study, nurses are at increased risk for suicide. Using federal data, researchers compared suicide rates among...
Weekly Spark

School Tip Lines Were Meant to Stop Shootings, but Uncovered a Teen Suicide Crisis

February 21, 2020
NBC News Initially set up to prevent school shootings, anonymous tip lines across the U.S. are now helping to address...
Weekly Spark

UTAH: Utah Becomes Latest State to Ban Discredited LGBTQ “Conversion Therapy”

February 14, 2020
NPR Utah has banned conversion therapy for minors. Aimed at altering a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, the practice...
Weekly Spark

Study: Higher Poverty Tied to Increased Youth Suicide Risk

February 14, 2020
U.S. News & World Report New findings suggest there may be a link between poverty and youth suicide. Researchers analyzed national data...
Weekly Spark

JAPAN: Japanese Suicides Decline to Lowest in over 40 Years

February 07, 2020
Reuters According to Japanese authorities, suicides have decreased for the tenth year in a row. Falling by about 40 percent...
Weekly Spark

U.S. Suicide Rate Rises 40% over 17 Years, with Blue-Collar Workers at Highest Risk, CDC Finds

February 07, 2020
CNBC A recent analysis found that blue-collar workers are at higher risk of suicide than people in other professions. These findings come...
Weekly Spark

WASHINGTON: A Novel Idea for Mental Health Care in Rural Washington

January 31, 2020
High Country News A hospital district in rural Washington is increasing patient access to behavioral health care. When the Columbia...
Weekly Spark

Annual Report Shows National and International College Mental Health Trends

January 31, 2020
Penn State News A new report summarizes college mental health trends in the U.S. and around the world. Released by the Center...
Weekly Spark

IOWA: DMU Becomes First Medical School to Require Mental Health Course for Students

January 24, 2020
NBC 13 Des Moines University (DMU) medical students are learning how to care for people with serious mental illness. In...
Weekly Spark

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Mental Health Help Expanding at D.C. Schools

January 24, 2020
U.S. News and World Report Washington, D.C., is working to connect students with mental health support. To help increase access...
Weekly Spark

More Americans Are Killing Themselves at Work

January 24, 2020
The Washington Post The importance of workplace suicide prevention is getting increased attention. According to federal data, the number of suicides...
Weekly Spark

IDAHO: Suicide Prevention Hotline Now Making Follow-Up Calls to Discharged Patients

January 17, 2020
KIVI BOISE In the past few years, the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline (ISPH) has increased its outreach to help support...
Weekly Spark

Aiming for Zero Suicides

January 17, 2020
AAMCNEWS Increasing numbers of health care organizations are integrating suicide prevention into patient care. Hundreds of health care systems across...
Weekly Spark

COLORADO: A Construction Company Embraces Frank Talk about Mental Health to Reduce Suicide

January 10, 2020
NPR A Colorado-based construction company has established a model for preventing suicide among employees. Following the suicide deaths of some...
Weekly Spark

Suicide Prevention Advocates Release Workplace Guidelines, Call on Employers to Act

January 10, 2020
Safety+Health New national guidelines aim to prevent suicide in the workplace. Developed for employers in all industries, the guidelines offer best practices...
Weekly Spark

A Look Back at International News in 2019

January 03, 2020
NIGERIA: HAPPINESS Project Increases Access to Mental Health Treatment in Nigeria—YaleNews INTERNATIONAL: Why People with Mental Illness May Face Poorer...
Weekly Spark

A Look Back at State and Community News in 2019

January 03, 2020
INDIANA: MHA to Offer Mental Health First Aid Training to Baristas, Bartenders, Hairdressers—Kokomo Perspective OREGON: The Connection between Eviction and...
Weekly Spark

A Look Back at National News in 2019

January 03, 2020
FCC Votes to Set up Three-Digit Suicide Hotline Number like 911—PBS NewsHour Traditional Masculinity Can Hurt Boys, Say New APA...