Social media addiction is a growing concern
Psychologists estimate tens of millions of Americans are addicted to social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. While adults and teens both use the platforms, social media addiction statistics indicate that the younger generation is more easily addicted and more susceptible to negative effects such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts leading to…
Is the pandemic to blame for the rising suicide rate? Not entirely.
By TIM ROWDENThe Grief Project Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, with 47,646 deaths reported in 2021, an increase of nearly four percent over 2020, according to recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of suicides per 100,000 increased from 13.5 in 2020 to 14.0 in 2021.…
Taking steps to prevent suicide
From UCLA Health: The suicide rate among young adults is up, and the COVID-19 pandemic may not be the only factor to blame. Experts are looking closely at the role of social media, drug use and mood disorders. But the most important key to preventing suicide may be recognizing the signs of suicidal thoughts. “Many people…
Annie’s Hope – Helping children heal from grief
An estimated 5.6 million children in the U.S. will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18. Of those, an estimated 467,000 (9.8%) will lose a parent to suicide, and 42,000 (4.4%) will lose a sibling to suicide. Researchers believe one in 13 kids in the U.S. will suffer the loss of…
SAMSHA unveils improved FindTreatment.gov
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) is rolling out a newly improved FindTreatment.gov, built to be the most comprehensive resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders, FindTreatment.gov offers you the ability to: • Search for treatment from multiple sources such as certified substance use and mental health treatment facilities, opioid treatment programs,…
HHS awards more than $130 million in 988 Lifeline Grants
This month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will award more than $130 million in 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline grants – part of the $800 million provided to SAMHSA under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to address the nation’s ongoing mental…
Men’s suicide rate is 3 to 4 times as high as women. This new approach may help
Men overall have a suicide rate three and four times as high as women, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One reason is that men tend to choose more lethal means— most often firearms. Men are also less likely than women to seek mental-health help. And men’s anxiety and depression often come across as…
Researchers suggest new approach to music therapy to help trace change in depression
Researchers at the University of York and the Royal College of Music have proposed a new way of harnessing music therapy for the diagnosis, assessment and monitoring of depression: “Phatic behaviors in conversation can include small-talk, interjections and gestures which put the other person at ease and strengthen social bonds and understanding. These behaviors can…
Witness to suicide
Witnessing a suicide or finding someone after they have died, whether you know the person or not, can be very traumatic. The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) New Hampshire Chapter’s Connect program notes you may have intense feelings and reactions – normal responses to an abnormal event. NAMI notes: “People who have lost a…
Surviving suicide loss – what to expect
Suicide ripples out through families, social circles and communities. Whether you have lost a loved one, witnessed or found them after, or witnessed the death of another, the trauma of your loss and experience will affect you in different ways. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): “Everyone experiences a suicide loss in…
The Grief Project 