KFF Health News (4/29, Pattani) reports suicide prevention efforts “have typically focused on connecting individuals in crisis with treatment,” but advocates are now “calling for a broader approach” that expands “beyond stopping people from dying to also giving them reasons to live.” Decades of research show initiatives like running food banks or “hosting weekly book clubs for homebound seniors” can reduce suicides. The article profiles New York farmer Chris Pawelski, who “hit his breaking point in 2020.” He and his wife turned to NYFarmNet, a free program that “connects farmers with two consultants: a financial analyst specializing in farm planning and a social worker focused on emotional concerns and family dynamics.” This support enabled him to transition his business model and find new avenues for income, ultimately boosting his mental health.
Related Links:
— “Saving Lives by Changing Lives: The Next Frontier in Suicide Prevention,”Aneri Pattani, KFF Health News, April 29, 2026