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Hope Network awarded $600K grant to expand mental health training
Hope Network has been awarded a $600,000 federal grant to expand mental health and suicide prevention training statewide over the next three years.
State hopes to prevent suicides through new and expanded partnerships
Wisconsin is increasing efforts to prevent suicide by training more mental health professionals and healthcare workers.
Hope Network awarded $600K grant to expand mental health training
Hope Network has been awarded a $600,000 federal grant to expand mental health and suicide prevention training statewide over the next three years.
Charlotte nonprofit works to close mental health gap for Hispanic girls, women
September is Suicide Prevention Month and also marks Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hope Network awarded $600K grant to expand mental health training
Hope Network has been awarded a $600,000 federal grant to expand mental health and suicide prevention training statewide over the next three years.
Suicide Prevention and Mental Health on the Spectrum
Autistic people of all ages are significantly more likely to think about suicide and die by suicide than the general population. Science and medicine reporter Corinne Purtill takes a deep dive into the issues they and their families face in her series, ‘Mental Health on the Spectrum.’
Suicide Prevention Starts Before a Crisis
Peter Wyman, PhD, and Kimberly Van Orden, PhD, in the URochester Medicine Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide, share how suicide prevention can start long before someone experiences a crisis.
Hope Network awarded $600K grant to expand mental health training
Hope Network has been awarded a $600,000 federal grant to expand mental health and suicide prevention training statewide over the next three years.
Insomnia linked to higher risk of dementia, suicide, stroke and other major health issues: Study
Insomnia may be linked to an increased risk of stroke, dementia and several mental health conditions, a new study finds.
Charlotte nonprofit works to close mental health gap for Hispanic girls, women
September is Suicide Prevention Month and also marks Hispanic Heritage Month.
Charlotte nonprofit works to close mental health gap for Hispanic girls, women
September is Suicide Prevention Month and also marks Hispanic Heritage Month.
What CDC's new teen health survey shows, and what it skips
Teen suicide risk hit a 10-year low in 2025. Guns, sexual violence, and self-harm. Where are the 2025 data on transgender teens? Missing data changes public health policy. Teen suicide risk hit a 10-year low in 2025. CDC asked more than 10,000 high school students over 100 questions in spring 2025. Yesterday, it published a report covering a fraction of them. The report focsed on five areas: diet, physical activity, sleep, digital behaviors, and mental health, reflecting the priorities of the Make America Healthy Again movement. There was good news. Fewer teens seriously considered suicide in 2025 than in any survey year since 2015: 14%, down from 20% in 2023. Sadness fell. Underlying Conditions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Sports participation, which dipped to 49% in 2021, is back to its 2015 level of 58%. Daily PE fell from 27% to 20% in two years, while fewer students eat breakfast daily than a decade ago. Guns, sexual violence, and self-harm. The questionnaire is public, and it goes well beyond those five areas. Students answered questions about sexual violence, self-harm, and whether they got help when they felt sad or anxious. They said how quickly they could get a loaded gun. They reported whether food ran out at home and whether they felt close to people at school. There were questions about sexual identity, including whether they were transgender. The report did not publish any of the answers students gave to those questions. CDC posts the raw survey data online, so anyone can see what the report left out. The report doesn’t cover the health of sexual minority students. Among students who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, questioning, or another non-straight identity, persistent sadness fell from 66% to 57% between 2023 and 2025. Serious thoughts of suicide fell from 41% to 30%. Those drops were bigger than the ones among straight students, although the gap remains wide: 28% of straight students reported persistent sadness, about half the rate of LGBQ+ students. About 1 in 7 girls reported sexual violence in the past year. One in 6 students hurt themselves on purpose. Among students who needed help for sadness or anxiety, half rarely or never got it. And among students who had seriously considered suicide, 43% said they could get a loaded gun without an adult’s permission. One protective factor rose sharply. In 2023, 55% of students said they felt close to people at their school; in 2025, 63% did. CDC’s earlier research ties that kind of connection to better mental health. Where are the 2025 data on transgender teens? In 2023, CDC's national survey asked high school students, for the first time, whether they were transgender. Their answers are the only nationally representative data on transgender teens, and their mental health is by far the worst of any demographic. That year, 71% of transgender students reported persistent sadness, 54% seriously considered suicide, and 26% attempted it, compared with 38%, 18%, and 8% of cisgender students. But we don’t have 2025 data. The timing matters because students took the survey in spring 2025, as federal policy toward transgender youth shifted. On January 28th, an executive order directed agencies to end federal support for gender-affirming care for people under 19, and several hospitals paused that care within days. In February, the CDC said it would no longer process transgender identity data. Later in 2025, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, and HHS ended the 988 Lifeline’s dedicated line for LGBTQ+ youth. Researchers disagree about how much state policy shapes trans teens’ mental health. A 2024 Trevor Project study estimated that anti-trans laws increased suicide attempts among trans and nonbinary youth. Critics dispute its methods and its estimates. The 2025 survey could have added national evidence to that fight. CDC collected the data but hasn’t publicly released it. Missing data changes public health policy. Surveillance works as a feedback loop. It can show officials whether their policies help or hurt. The CDC didn’t provide data on the students most exposed to transgender policy shifts. The report kept measures that frame health as personal choice, like fruit, breakfast, and sports. It left out measures that track policy, like gun access, mental healthcare, food at home, and school climate, all of which respond to what legislators and agencies decide. HHS did not respond to questions that I sent on September 21st.
Ride Against Suicide raises awareness for mental health, suicide prevention
Volunteers are in the midst of a 4-day journey, biking across Wisconsin and Minnesota raising awareness for responders’ mental health.
Patient Dies By Suicide After 'Insurance Issue' Delayed Medicine For Lung Disease Flare-Ups
By Lauren Sausser and KFF Health News HealthDay ReportersTUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Kenney Blewett was diagnosed with lung disease more than a decade ago but started experiencing flare-ups this year that made him feel like he couldn’t breathe. Blewett, of Kyle, Texas, described those ...
RJ Mitte's cause of death at 34 is released
RJ Mitte's cause of death has been confirmed by his representative. The 34-year-old "Breaking Bad" star died by suicide on Monday, Oct. 12, his representative Sean Reilly, tells USA TODAY.
Charlotte nonprofit works to close mental health gap for Hispanic girls, women
September is Suicide Prevention Month and also marks Hispanic Heritage Month.
‘Connection saves lives': What to know about veteran suicide prevention efforts
An average of 17 veterans die by suicide each day. Here's what to know about warning signs, support and prevention.
Charlotte nonprofit works to close mental health gap for Hispanic girls, women
September is Suicide Prevention Month and also marks Hispanic Heritage Month.
Gun suicide prevention is the goal, but Anne Arundel still pushing for results
Gun suicides are up this year in Anne Arundel, despite an ongoing push to prevent them. “No one single intervention is going to change this,” the county health officer said.
Locals, students give testimonies for Suicide Prevention Month
The Syracuse Common Council voted to recognize September 2026 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month on Sept. 21
Nine interdisciplinary teams selected for 1U4U Seed Grants
Nine interdisciplinary University of Utah research teams have been selected for 1U4U Seed Grant funding, tackling challenges ranging from suicide prevention and pediatric mental health...
Aaron Paul Posts RJ Mitte Video on Mental Health After Actor's Suicide
Aaron Paul posted a video of his late 'Breaking Bad' co-star RJ Mitte advocating for mental health awareness, weeks before his death from suicide.
Former Fox News producer Jennifer Eckhart dies by suicide at 36
Jennifer Eckhart, a former Fox Business Network associate producer, settled a sexual assault lawsuit against ex-"Fox & Friends" weekend anchor Ed Henry in 2025.
Hope Network awarded $600K grant to expand mental health training
Hope Network has been awarded a $600,000 federal grant to expand mental health and suicide prevention training statewide over the next three years.
Hope Network awarded federal grant to expand mental health resources
The Hope Network has received a $600,000 federal grant to expand mental health awareness and suicide prevention training across Michigan, helping an additional 5,000 people over the next three years learn how to recognize and respond to…
Patient Dies by Suicide After ‘Insurance Issue’ Delayed Medicine for Lung Disease Flare-Ups
Hours after experiencing a flare-up related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Kenney Blewett of Kyle, Texas, died by suicide in June. A medication his doctor prescribed days earlier to ease his breathing problems hadn’t been filled due to an “insurance issue,” his pharmacy explained via email.
CT business owners ID’d as couple who died in murder-suicide in Woodbridge
Police had gone to the home for a well-being check that was called in by an employee of their business.
Princess Diana’s Painful Mental Health Struggles Revealed in Brother’s Explosive Memoir
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Princess Diana’s brothe...
Turning pain into purpose: A teen son’s legacy grows into a mission reaching thousands across Louisiana
Learn about the Rain Will Bring Flowers Foundation founded by Jordan and Lisa Tabor to support youth mental health and suicide prevention initiatives in Louisiana.
The people of UTC: Get to know Center for Wellbeing Director Lucy White
Lucy White is back at the UTC with a new role and the same goal of helping students take care of themselves. White, the new director of the Center for Wellbeing, previously worked at UTC in 2022 as assistant director for education and suicide prevention. After the grant-funded position ended, she spent three and a half years at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center counseling medical students and residents.
Court order temporarily shields some Illinois Catholic health care providers from assisted-suicide law
The order covers members of several religious health care associations, including the Illinois Catholic Health Association.
‘Connection saves lives': What to know about veteran suicide prevention efforts
An average of 17 veterans die by suicide each day. Here's what to know about warning signs, support and prevention.
Four Ohio college basketball teams play Outdoor exhibition
CareSource Invitational event University of Dayton head coach Anthony Grant started four years ago after his daughter died by suicide.
Cass County Mental Health Initiative is shining light on suicide prevention awareness
Cass County Mental Health Initiative shines light on the community and those that are struggling with mental health
Senate passes mental health in aviation bill named for UND student who died by suicide
The John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act now heads to the House
Health department recognizes National Suicide Prevention Month
The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County recognized National Suicide Prevention Month during its recent All Staff Day, highlighting the
AI Chatbots Often Fail To Help Users in Mental-Health Crisis
New research shared exclusively with TIME shows chatbots are good at spotting distress, but frequently fail to refer users to resources
Charlotte nonprofit works to close mental health gap for Hispanic girls, women
September is Suicide Prevention Month and also marks Hispanic Heritage Month.
KVC Kansas works to protect foster youth mental health
When children enter the foster care system, their lives are uprooted and changed, which can lead to a mental health crisis or suicide.
Study: IL lawyers report mental health challenges, substance abuse, suicide ideation
(CAPITOL CITY NOW) - For many lawyers, the effects of the job can include declining mental health, substance abuse, problem gambling, suicide ideation, and even declining cognitive skills. These are the results of a survey of Illinois attorneys, "The Weight of Practice," commissioned by the Illinois Lawyers' Assistance Program. Factors include the stress of being
Mental health clinic launches suicide prevention campaign
Dr. Holly Scanes, director of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors in Mililani, explains how they serve veterans during Suicide Prevention Month.
Mental health event at Flint City Hall offers tools, support
Flint residents took part in a three-day suicide prevention event at City Hall that focused on training, remembrance, and mental health support, ending Saturday with organizers emphasizing community awareness.
Recent Philly gun violence sparks concerns over mental health
A deadly police shooting, the murder of a Philadelphia police officer, and the suicide of a man linked to a double homicide have sparked recent concerns over mental health and gun violence in Philadelphia. NBC10’s Tim Furlong has the details and speaks with a mental health expert.
Carrot Top released from hospital after suicide attempt
Carrot Top has been released from the Las Vegas hospital where he was treated after a reported suicide attempt.
‘Pizza with a Purpose’ donates all proceeds to suicide awareness, mental health programs
The fundraiser is in conjunction with Alger County Schools and will help fund counselors for schools in the area.
Carrot Top leaves hospital after suicide attempt: How he's doing now
Carrot Top has been released from the Las Vegas hospital where he was treated after a reported suicide attempt.
Charlotte nonprofit works to close mental health gap for Hispanic girls, women
September is Suicide Prevention Month and also marks Hispanic Heritage Month.
Children’s Suicide-Related Emergency Visits Spiked Between 2016-2022
Emergency visits by children with suicide-related crises increased by 74 percent between 2016 and 2022, according to a new study.
Houston police responded to a man in a mental health crisis. ICE arrested him
Houston Public Media obtained records showing interactions between HPD and ICE during a mental health crisis, suicide attempt and domestic disturbances.
Charlotte nonprofit works to close mental health gap for Hispanic girls, women
September is Suicide Prevention Month and also marks Hispanic Heritage Month.
Charlotte nonprofit works to close mental health gap for Hispanic girls, women
September is Suicide Prevention Month and also marks Hispanic Heritage Month.
Martin Short speaks out on 'heartbreak' of daughter's death by suicide
As Martin Short fights the stigma against suicide, he has shared the "devastating" impact of his daughter's death earlier this year.
Amid Wyoming’s mental health struggles, governor hopes successor prioritizes the issue
by Katie Klingsporn, WyoFile JACKSON—Wyoming is among five states with the highest suicide rates in the nation. In recent years, it has fallen from No. 1
Experts discuss ways to recognize mental health struggles
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and October is Depression and Mental Health Screening Month. With several key observances in October, including World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, mental health and well-being is in the spotlight this fall.
Perez Hilton reunites with his kids after hospitalization, mental health crisis
Editor's Note: If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting “988.”
CDC survey finds mental health and suicide risk among U.S. teens has improved
The CDC's latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey highlights students' diets, sleep and nutrition, which are priorities for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Bay Area bands address suicide awareness and mental health with lyrics
San Jose band Suicide Heaven was formed with the twin goals of releasing new-wave inspired music and advocating for suicide prevention.
How BPC is Building Bipartisan Momentum on Youth Mental Health
America’s youth mental health crisis didn’t begin with COVID-19, but the pandemic dramatically accelerated it. More than 40% of teenagers reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Youth suicide attempts, self-injury, and drug overdoses climbed to alarming levels. Meanwhile, the behavioral health system meant to catch these young people remains chronically understaffed and poorly designed … Continued
Glenwood Behavioral Health Hospital shares key warning signs of suicide, how to get help
Glenwood Behavioral Health Hospital shares key warning signs of suicide, how to get help
Routt County to host free mental health support training Tuesday, Sept. 29
In honor of September as Suicide Prevention Month, Routt County Colorado State University Extension and Reaching Everyone Preventing Suicide will host a “Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory” training on Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 2:30...
Mental health professional speaks on Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Suicide Prevention Month can draw attention to just how many people struggle with mental health and suicidal thoughts.
KVC Kansas works to protect foster youth mental health
When children enter the foster care system, their lives are uprooted and changed, which can lead to a mental health crisis or suicide.
Parkridge Health System Spreading Awareness for Mental Health
CHATTANOOGA, TN.- As we near the end of Suicide Prevention Month, Parkridge Health System is dedicated to raising awareness about this important subject. Suicide is a leading cause of death and affects individuals of all ages. Prevention and intervention are vital, as many factors can increase or reduce the risk of suicide. Parkridge is here to provide the importance of...
Politics, Philosophy and Economic Society discusses ethics of physician-assisted suicide
Members of UCF’s Politics, Philosophy and Economics Society packed into Classroom Building 1 on Thursday night to debate the ethics of physician-assisted suicide being available to patients whose deep depression
Dr Brandt Foundation Brings Mental Health Conversations to Miami Teens- Haute Living
Dr Brandt Foundation brings Real Conversations to Miami teens, focusing on mental health, self care, honest support and suicide prevention.
Advocates, families gather in Lansing for statewide youth mental health conference
The Association for Children’s Mental Health is hosting its 36th annual statewide conference Tuesday at the MTG Space in Lansing, bringing together advocates and families to discuss youth mental health as Suicide Awareness Month comes to a close.
Councilors acknowledge importance of community support in mental health
Content Warning: This article contains discussions of suicide and substance addiction. City Council meeting on Sept. 28, 2026. Photo by Artie Kronenfeld.
Late artist Lil Poppa’s mother launches foundation focused on youth mental health
The mother of Jacksonville late recording artist Lil Poppa is honoring her son’s life by creating a foundation focused on mental health awareness, suicide prevention and youth support.
More than 1,000 walk in Concord for NAMI New Hampshire menta...
More than 1,000 people joined NAMIWalks New Hampshire in Concord, raising over $250,000 for mental health and suicide prevention as Mental Illness Awareness Wee...
Study connects food insecurity to mental health in young mothers
A new review of research from across sub-Saharan Africa found that inadequate access to food is linked to depression, suicide attempts, HIV vulnerabilities, and poorer sexual and reproductive health outcomes among adolescent mothers.
Primetime Review: That’s Entertainment?
If you decide to see Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime, it’s important to remember the title as you watch. Yes, this is a biopic of sorts about Chris Hansen and his work on To Catch a Predator, but it is more accurately about the quest for fame and using people’s trauma to attract ratings. True crime entertainment continues to have a prominent place in many people’s television habits, and this film asks us to examine what that means both for those whose stories have become our viewing pleasure and those of us watching. Primetime starts as Chris Hansen (Robert Pattinson) is told that his show, To Catch a Predator, is moving to a 9 PM spot opposite LOST. Chris and his producer, Andie (Merritt Wever), see this as an opportunity to make the program even more sensational, looking for bigger, more horrific predators. As part of their plan, they hire a young actor, Dan Plum (Skyler Gisondo), to play “Decoy Dan,” the person who greets the would-be predators who were catfished by Xavier Von Erck (Matthew Maher). Oppenheim, along with writers Ajon Singh and Luke Dittrich, is less concerned with an accurate retelling of the show as much as they are interested in interrogating the why of it all. That decision sometimes leaves Primetime feeling less like a biopic and more like a satirical look at the nature of programming like this. Visually, the movie is impressive. Oppenheim uses light and color effectively to cast Hansen as both villain and savior. Pattinson plays Hansen in an almost comical manner, as we see him wake his two young sons to watch a clip of the show, just to brag that he was moving into a prime spot on television. Even Andie struggles to accept a “nice” job when there is so much more fame to be found producing salacious true-crime content. Wever does an excellent job showing how the hunger for fame is not just in front of the camera, but in every aspect of the production. The heart of the movie, and the standout performance, belongs to Gisondo as Dan Plum. He is someone who just wants to get enough hours to be admitted into the Screen Actors Guild, and stumbles into this job without really knowing what it is. Throughout the film, we watch him suffer one trauma after another, ending with him witnessing the suicide of a District Attorney who is about to become the next unwitting star of Hansen’s show. If there is a sympathetic character in Primetime, it is Decoy Dan, and Gisondo plays him brilliantly. If you’re a fan of programming like To Catch a Predator, then Primetime will probably make you feel uncomfortable, and I think it’s worth sitting with that feeling and examining why we turn on shows that display the worst of humanity while we judge from our couches. Yes, it is correct to want to see people who would hurt children brought to justice, but perhaps it shouldn’t be something that we watch as entertainment. Rating: 3.5/5 This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on September 25, 2026. MacGuffin or Meaning: Film & TV Reviews and Reflections is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Examining Latino youth mental health in the age of ICE raids
After the recent deaths of two young Latino men by suicide, youth mental health care professionals reflect on the ongoing mental health crisis happening among Latino children and adolescents.
El Paso County Health to end leadership of Youth Suicide Prevention
In a move advocates described as shocking, El Paso County Public Health is dropping its role in the community's youth suicide prevention program.
Carrot Top lawyer says comedian was extorted days before suicide attempt
Carrot Top's lawyer has filed an emergency motion to prevent his alleged extortionist and former friend, Brian Evans, from filing more documents.
Upstate bridge death ruled suicide, prompts mental health discussions
A man’s death at a Greenville County bridge has been ruled a suicide, sparking conversations about mental health challenges and available resources.
Memorial honors North Kingstown officer as family encourages mental health conversations
A new memorial honors a North Kingstown police officer who died by suicide months after joining the department.
Scotts Valley walk honors loved ones and raises mental health awareness
Community members in Scotts Valley gathered for a mental health awareness and suicide prevention walk, honoring those lost and spreading a message of support.
Hope Network awarded $600K grant to expand mental health training
Hope Network has been awarded a $600,000 federal grant to expand mental health and suicide prevention training statewide over the next three years.
Carrot Top released from hospital following reported suicide attempt
The comedian is with family and reportedly “doing well” following the Sept. 18 incident in Las Vegas.
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
Lawmakers consider ways to reduce Oklahoma’s high veteran suicide rate
Wait times for mental healthcare, access to firearms and gaps in veteran services in rural Oklahoma could contribute to the state’s high veteran suicide rate.
Former Fox Business producer, podcaster dead by suicide in Florida
MARTIN COUNTY - Jennifer Eckhart, a former associate producer on Fox Business who has a podcast called REINVENTED, died by suicide, Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said Sept. 21.
From advocacy to action: Creating a culture of mental health awareness
By Abigail Rodriguez Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students and one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. Every semester,
America is missing the pattern behind its mental health crisis
Suicide, overdoses and alcohol deaths are treated as separate tragedies. Eric Kussin argues we're missing the crisis connecting them.
Recent Suicide Attempts and Prior Mental Health Hospitalization Linked to Further Risk for Attempts in Adolescents
A recent suicide attempt, prior mental health hospitalization, nonsuicidal self-injury, and hopelessness are tied to subsequent suicide attempts among teens who screen positive for suicide risk.
Charlotte nonprofit works to close mental health gap for Hispanic girls, women
September is Suicide Prevention Month and also marks Hispanic Heritage Month.
September Mental Health Column by Candyce Scott
By Ald Candyce Scott September 2026: Mental Health Awareness Year 2026 & Suicide Prevention Month September is more than a change of seasons. It’s time for us to pause, check in on one another, and recognize Suicide Prevention Month. I believe that talking openly about mental health saves lives. Recognizing the warning signs and encouraging […]
Locals, students give testimonies for Suicide Prevention Month
The Syracuse Common Council voted to recognize September 2026 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month on Sept. 21.
Broome County Mental Health talks BC SAFE and Suicide Prevention
Heidi Mikeska and Brittany Riso from the Broome County Mental Health Department came on to talk about the results of Chalk the Walk and Suicide Prevention Month.
Mental health concerns grow after 8 suicide attempts during Lincoln deployment
The Navy confirmed eight suicide attempts across the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group during its extended Middle East mission.
Your Mental Health: A look at the rise of suicide-related teen ER visits
A troubling new study is putting a spotlight on a growing mental health crisis among children and teens.
Former Fox Business Producer Jennifer Eckhart Dead at 36 After Apparent Suicide
Jennifer Eckhart, a former associate producer for Fox Business, has died.
Paws and Stripes works support veterans mental health
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, although the month is almost over, Paws and Stripes has made it their mission to support veterans and their mental h…
AI is impacting local kids’ mental health: How can we keep them safe?
Editor’s note: This story contains mentions of suicide and self-harm. If you or someone you know needs help, call, text, or chat the 988 Lifeline.
Concord mental health awareness walk draws around 2,000 people, organizers say
The state's largest mental health awareness and suicide prevention event drew roughly 2,000 people to Concord, according to organizers.
CDC’s latest youth behavior report offers a narrower look at teen health
The 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey report focuses on five areas — diet, physical activity, sleep, digital behavior, and mental health and suicide risk — while largely leaving out national findings on substance use, sexual behavior, violence and disparities among student groups that were prominent in previous reports.
Carrot Top Overdosed at His Las Vegas Home During Health Crisis
Carrot Top is suspected to have suffered a drug overdose on Friday, Sept 18, at his Las Vegas home after he attempted suicide. TMZ reported that the comedian overdosed on prescription medication befor...
Akron Children's part of global suicide prevention program. What it means
Akron Children's is part of a global initiative to leverage the role children's hospitals can play in preventing suicide. Here's what that means.