EurekAlert! In the Spotlight - National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

This month, we're turning our attention to National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, an important time dedicated to raising awareness, breaking stigma, and exploring the science behind mental health and suicide prevention.

Latest news releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 12-Dec-2025 10:11 ET (12-Dec-2025 15:11 GMT/UTC)

11-Dec-2025

New UBCO research challenges traditional teen suicide prevention models

University of British Columbia Okanagan campus
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The old proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” also applies to preventing youth suicide, according to UBC Okanagan researchers who found that community support is essential.

In Canada, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among children under 14 and the second for youth and young adults between 15 and 34 years old. The UBCO Faculty of Health and Social Development researchers say governments, schools and community agencies need to rethink how youth suicide prevention efforts are designed.

Journal: Critical Public Health

10-Dec-2025

How emotions spread online following celebrity suicide news

PLOS
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Reshare cascades on X (formerly Twitter) show how different expressed emotions unfold in the aftermath of celebrity suicides, according to a study published December 10, 2025, in the open-access journal PLOS One by Ehsan Nouri of the University of Virginia, U.S., and colleagues.

Journal: PLOS One

10-Dec-2025

New study: Years of war in Ukraine leave adolescents facing a growing mental health emergency

University of Turku
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study reveals that 16% of teens exposed to both phases of the Russo-Ukrainian war experience symptoms of PTSD compared to 1% of non-exposed teens, and more than 10% experience severe depressive symptoms compared to 3% of non-exposed peers. Adolescents exposed to both phases of war also reported significantly higher levels of suicide attempts. More than 10% of adolescents attempted suicide compared to 4% of non-exposed peers.

Journal: JAMA Pediatrics

8-Dec-2025

Lowest suicide rate is in December but some in media still promote holiday-suicide myth

Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Reports and Proceedings

Despite December's historically low suicide rates, some news accounts incorrectly link the holidays to increases in suicides, APPC data find.

5-Dec-2025

The presence of a gun in the home increases the risk of suicide by three to five times

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A review of 467 studies also points out that, instead of alleviating feelings of fear and anxiety, weapons increase them, as well as exacerbating controlling behaviors and causing domestic violence.

Journal: Harvard Review of Psychiatry
Funder: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

3-Dec-2025

FAU study finds connection between poor mental health and dark web use

Florida Atlantic University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study of 2,000 U.S. adults shows dark web users report much higher rates of depression, paranoia, suicidal thoughts, self-injury and digital self-harm than surface web users. People with suicidal thoughts were nearly three times more likely to use the dark web, while those engaging in self-injury or digital self-harm were up to five and 19 times more likely, respectively. Researchers suggest dark web use may reflect underlying mental health struggles and urge professionals to reach vulnerable users in these hidden spaces.

Journal: Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking

2-Dec-2025

Intimate partner violence injury patterns linked with suicidal behavior

Radiological Society of North America
Reports and Proceedings

Victims of intimate partner violence with suicidal behavior have characteristic injury patterns on medical imaging, according to a new study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The findings open the door to improved screening and earlier intervention to better protect these vulnerable populations, the researchers said.

Meeting: 111th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)