According to HealthDay (6/16, Mundell), on June 16, the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued a report finding that approximately “one in 13 young adults in the United States had serious thoughts of suicide in 2013-2014,” a “rate of 7.4 percent” that “translates into 2.6 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 25, researchers said.” In an agency news release, Kana Enomoto, SAMHSA principal deputy administrator, said, “We need to reach out to young people with the message that help is at hand, and promote effective programs for saving lives by treating people at risk whenever and wherever they need it.”

Related Links:

— “1 in 13 Young Adults in U.S. Considered Suicide in Past Year,” E.J. Mundell, HealthDay, June 16, 2016.

On the front of its Business Day section, the New York Times (6/15, B1, Isaac, Subscription Publication) reports that on June 14, “in the biggest step by a major technology company to incorporate suicide prevention tools into its platform,” Facebook “introduced mechanisms and processes to make it easier for people to help friends who post messages about suicide or self-harm.” The “new features” will allow people to “flag friends’ posts that they deem suicidal; the posts will be reviewed by a team at the social network that will then provide language to communicate with the person who is at risk, as well as information on” how to prevent suicide.

Related Links:

— “Facebook Offers Tools for Those Who Fear a Friend May Be Suicidal,” Mike Isaac, New York Times, June 15, 2016.

USA Today (6/13, Zoroya) reports that behavioral health experts warn that “a second wave of suffering can flow from” violent events like the Orlando shooting, “as survivors and first responders — such as the police officers who fought their way into the Pulse early Sunday — struggle with what they’ve witnessed.” Behavioral health experts “say it is common for people to have intense memories of traumatic events. But when those memories become intrusive and involuntary, the result can be PTSD.”

Psychiatric News (6/13) reports APA President Maria A. Oquendo, MD said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened by the senseless violence in Orlando this weekend.” She added, “The notion that the potential motive for targeting the patrons of this nightclub was because of their sexual orientation is disturbing. … We offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families.

APA is a healing organization and our members will be there to help the community of Orlando heal.” Meanwhile, Robert Ursano, MD, chair of APA’s Committee on Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster, said, “Mass shootings are a far-too-common form of terrorism in our nation. …Terrorists attack the fault lines in our society, at the boundaries of sexual preference or race or ethnicity, so it’s important for our nation and our communities to stand together.”

Related Links:

— “After the shooting stops, another fear sets in: PTSD,” Gregg Zoroya, USA Today, June 13, 2016.

HealthDay (6/13, Preidt) reports that research indicates “adults who witnessed parental domestic violence in childhood are at increased risk for suicide attempts.” Investigators looked at data on approximately 22,500 adults. The researchers found that approximately “17 percent of those exposed to chronic parental domestic violence (more than 10 times before age 16) had attempted suicide, compared with roughly 2 percent of those not exposed to parental domestic violence.” The findings were published online in Child: Care, Health and Development.

Related Links:

— “The Childhood Incidents That Increase Later Suicide Risk,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, June 13, 2016.

HealthDay (6/10, Thompson) reported that the findings of a 44-family study indicated that “preschoolers now often spend hours each day watching TV or playing video games – with little or no oversight or interaction from a parent.” The study, presented at a psychological association meeting, revealed that just “a handful of kids aged three to five years old received active engagement from their moms as they sat glued to the ‘electronic babysitter.

Related Links:

— “Parents Often Using TVs, Tablets as ‘Electronic Babysitters’,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, June 10, 2016.