The U.S. Department of Justice (Justice Department) has launched the National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Resource Center. This center will provide training and technical assistance to support states and communities in the implementation of their ERPO programs to reduce gun violence and save lives.
Archives: News
Injury and Violence Prevention Funding Resources
The Safe States Alliance (Safe States) has released a National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) state-specific funding brief as well as an infographic on investments in injury and violence prevention.
Black Trans, Nonbinary Youth Have Higher Suicide Risk Than Cisgender Queer Peers
A new research brief calls on all adults to help prevent suicide among Black LGBTQ+ youth by reducing their experiences of discrimination. Produced by The Trevor Project, the brief includes survey data that show Black trans and nonbinary youth especially need support.
In the survey, just over one in five Black trans and nonbinary youth reported a suicide attempt in the past year, more than double the number of their Black cisgender LGBQ peers. Both groups reported experiencing high rates of discrimination based on their race or LGBTQ+ identities, with the highest rates among Black trans, nonbinary, or questioning youth. Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression was found to be associated with increased suicide risk.
The authors of the brief encouraged adults working with Black LGBTQ+ youth to support all aspects of their identities as they cope with the combined impact of multiple types of bias. In addition to recommending tailored services to help Black LGBTQ+ youth navigate discrimination, the authors added that all adults can help meet the greater goal of stopping discrimination in the first place.
Black LGBTQ+ youth are not inherently at risk of suicide, said Derrick Matthews, The Trevor Project’s director of research science and lead author of the brief. Multiple factors place them at risk, including mistreatment by others. “It’s time to step up our efforts to let Black trans and nonbinary young people know that we are here for them by working to reduce their experiences of discrimination—and reminding them that this world really is a better place because they are in it,” said Matthews.
Spark Extra! Check out our guides to supporting LGBTQIA2S+ youth.
Practice-Based Suicide Prevention Research Centers Meeting
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is hosting an online meeting to overview the projects underway at the Practice-Based Suicide Prevention Research Centers. The meeting will take place on April 10 from 12 to 3:30 p.m. ET.
Promoting the Integration of Primary and Behavioral Health Care: States
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting grant applications for states to promote the integration of primary and behavioral health care. Applications are due by May 20.
Getting Further With Zero Suicide: Health Care Worker Wellness
Online Racial Discrimination and Suicidal Thoughts Among Black Adolescents
A recent study examined online racial discrimination, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and suicidal thoughts among Black adolescents. The researchers found an association between these outcomes, hypothesizing that PTSD was a mediator between online discrimination and suicidal behavior (i.e., online racial discrimination predicted PTSD, which predicted suicidal behavior).
This cross-sectional study used data from the National Survey of Critical Digital Literacy collected from October to December 2020. Participants were 525 Black adolescents (265 girls, 251 boys) ages 11 to 19.
The researchers measured participants’ experiences with online racial discrimination using the Individual Online Racial Discrimination subscale of the Online Victimization Scale. To assess symptoms of PTSD, they used the UCLA Child/Adolescent PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-5. To assess suicidal thoughts, they used a single item from the Children’s Depression Inventory-Short.
The analysis found an indirect association between online racial discrimination and suicidal thoughts through PTSD. However, it did not find a direct association between online racial discrimination and suicidal thoughts.
The cross-sectional design of this study measured online racial discrimination, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts at one point in time. Therefore, it was unable to establish temporal relationships between the outcome variables or a causal relationship between them. However, the findings highlight the importance of monitoring and reducing hate speech in online platforms and the need to create safer spaces for Black adolescents.
Tynes, B. M., Maxie-Moreman, A., Ha Hoang, T. M., Willis, H. A., & English, D. (2024). Online racial discrimination, suicidal ideation, and traumatic stress in a national sample of Black adolescents. JAMA Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.4961
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Social Determinants of Health
WISQARS Updates
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) now includes 2021 fatal and nonfatal injury data, provisional fatal data through May 2023, and new infographics and health equity modules.
Funding Opportunity: Lethal Means Safety in Health Care and Community Settings
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has released a funding opportunity to evaluate lethal means safety strategies that reduce suicide risk in health care and community settings. Applications are due between June 15, 2024, and January 23, 2025.