A recent study from Boston Children’s Hospital highlights the significant benefits of their enhanced suicide screening, assessment, and management protocol, which was implemented in their inpatient psychiatry units from 2021. This approach aligns with the Zero Suicide framework and has made a real difference in the lives of adolescents dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts, especially during the challenging times following the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a time of increasing gun ownership among women, just under 4 in 10 women who died by firearm suicide had no documented history of mental or physical health problems, highlighting a need for prevention strategies tailored to at-risk women.

A groundbreaking study published in the journal Current Neuropharmacology highlights a concerning potential link between Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP1) receptor agonists—widely used in blockbuster drugs like Ozempic—and the risk of depression and suicidal ideation (SI). Using advanced pharmacogenomic computational analyses, the international team of 24 researchers revealed genetic pathways that may induce depressive phenotypes in users of GLP1 agonists, raising significant concerns about the safety of these medications for certain individuals.

The start of deer hunting season in the US - when firearms and ammunition are more available in certain states - is associated with increases in both hunting and non-hunting related firearm incidents, including violent crime and suicide, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

Globally, suicide is the third leading cause of death among girls aged 15–19 years. However, there is a growing concern that suicide research has paid little attention to pregnant adolescent girls, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, including Ghana, where nearly one in seven adolescents experiences (unwanted) pregnancy.