Archive for suicide
COVID-19’s devastating toll: An increase in adolescent suicides and mental health crises
The past decade has seen worrisome increases in self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among adolescents. Two new studies from Boston Children’s Hospital show that the situation became even more acute with the onset of COVID-19. Epidemiologist Maimuna Majumder, PhD, and colleagues at the Computational Health Informatics Program (CHIP) at Boston Children’s partnered with public health ... Read More
It takes a village: The frontlines of the behavioral health crisis
As challenging as navigating the pandemic has been for adults, it has been at least as stressful for children and teens. Yet even before COVID-19 transformed the way we live, kids were coping with mental and behavioral health challenges. In the past decade, children’s trips to emergency departments for mental health disorders rose by some ... Read More
When a friend dies by suicide: Preventing suicide contagion
Suicide can shake an entire community. For some kids, a friend or classmate’s suicide increases the risk that they may resort to the same behavior. This risk, known as suicide contagion, can affect people who lived down the street from the person who died, went to school with them, or simply saw them around town. ... Read More
Gender-affirming surgery linked to better mental health in transgender people
“When I looked down at my body, I couldn’t stop crying. I finally felt like myself.” Zack’s reaction after undergoing gender-affirming surgery — in his case, a phalloplasty — was similar to that of many transgender people. Now, results of a new study show what a number of researchers, clinicians, and trans patients already suspected: ... Read More
COVID-19 takes its toll on kids’ mental health
As experts warn that increasing behavioral and mental health challenges could represent a “second wave” of the pandemic in kids and teens, a recent study suggests that hospitalizations for self-harm and suicide attempts show no signs of ebbing. According to a study from Boston Children’s Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, ... Read More
COVID and suicidal thoughts: Help for families
Earlier this month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released stark new figures on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. One in four young adults (age 18 to 24) surveyed reported seriously considering suicide during the previous 30 days — an increase from years past. Rates of suicidal thoughts were also high in ... Read More
Poverty associated with suicide risk in children and adolescents
Suicide in children under age 20 has been increasing in the U.S., with rates almost doubling over the last decade. Between 2007 to 2016, nearly 21,000 children ages 5-19 years old died by suicide. While the reasons for the increase are not well understood, new research from Boston Children’s Hospital shows a link between poverty ... Read More
First-of-its-kind study links puberty blockers to lower odds of suicidal thoughts
Also called puberty blockers, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHas) are medications that can halt estrogen and testosterone production, effectively suppressing the physical changes associated with puberty. This allows transgender and non-binary teens to explore their gender identity without the pressure of puberty, which can exacerbate feelings of dysphoria. GnRHas are administered by implants or injections and ... Read More
Talking with your child about suicide
For three weeks in late spring of 2018, it seemed like suicide dominated the media. On May 18, the second season of the controversial series 13 Reasons Why began airing on Netflix. Eighteen days later, fashion designer Kate Spade died by suicide, followed three days later by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain. Such news came on the heels ... Read More