Reuters (6/18, Carroll) reports that since 2007, “suicide rates have been climbing among U.S. teens, with an especially pronounced increase in boys recently,” researchers concluded after examining data from “the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Underlying Cause of Death database.” The study’s lead author “hopes the study will alert parents and other relatives to the increasing suicide rates so they will notice changes in teens and young adults that might suggest a risk for suicide.” The findings were published June 18 in a research letter in JAMA.

According to CNN (6/18, Howard), “overall in 2017, there were 6,241 suicides among young people aged 15 to 24, of whom 5,016 were young men and 1,225 were young women, the researchers found.” The study, however, “had some limitations, including that the causes of death in the data were based on death certificates, which can be subject to error, or it could suggest that the observed increase in suicide deaths may reflect more accurate reporting in certificates.” In addition, investigators “did not examine factors behind the increase in suicide rates.”

Also covering the story are The Hill (6/18, Budryk), MedPage Today (6/18, Hlavinka), HealthDay (6/18, Thompson), and Medical Daily (6/18).

Related Links:

— “U.S. teen suicides rising, especially among boys, “Linda Carroll, Reuters, June 18, 2019

Healio (6/17, Miller) reports that Sourav Sengupta, MD, MPH, director of the child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship program and assistant professor at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine, “recently wrote an essay that appeared in JAMA where he discussed his struggles at balancing his professional workload and social and familial responsibilities and how he ultimately realized he needed professional help to overcome these difficulties.” Back in 1964, “researchers studied this ongoing battle, providing limited details in the” American Psychiatric Association’s journal the “American Journal of Psychiatry of a clinician who took multiple narcotics as he dealt with problems at home and work.” Dr. Sengupta provided “some advice to clinicians who may not think they need help or perhaps are afraid to,” saying, “Let’s face it: we’re not the best at assessing and addressing our own core emotional challenges. Getting some outside perspective and support and direction provides a map back to feeling well.”

Related Links:

— “Clinician who sought mental health help shares journey, “Janel Miller, Healio, June 17, 2019

The Washington Post (6/17, Dennett) reports “that eating disorders in midlife — and beyond — are all too common among women,” as indicated by “a 2012 study [that] estimated that 13 percent of American woman age 50 and older have eating disorder symptoms.” Moreover, “a 2017 study found that about 3.5 percent of women older than 40 have a diagnosable eating disorder, yet most are not receiving treatment.” Finally, “another study found that though rates of anorexia plateau around age 26, rates of bulimia don’t plateau until around age 47, and rates of binge-eating disorder don’t plateau until the 70s.”

Related Links:

— “The overlooked crisis of eating disorders among middle-aged women, “Carrie Dennett, The Washington Post, June 17, 2019

MedPage Today (6/17, D’Ambrosio) reports, “Sexting among adolescents was linked to increased sexual behaviors and mental health risks in youth,” researchers concluded in a 23-study “review and meta-analysis.” The findings were published online June 17 in JAMA Pediatrics.

HealthDay (6/17, Thompson) also covers the story.

Related Links:

— “Teen Sexting Can Be Warning Sign of Other Risky Behaviors, “Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, June 17, 2019

HealthDay (6/14, Reinberg) reported researchers found that “being smart and highly educated may not prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but it appears to delay the disease’s impact on everyday life.” The findings of the 331-participant study were published online in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Related Links:

— “Education, Intelligence Might Protect Your Brain, “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, June 14, 2019