NIMH Livestream Event on Suicide Prevention During COVID: A Continuing Priority

During National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will host a livestream event on suicide prevention during the pandemic, focusing on unemployment, youth, and other population subgroups who may be experiencing elevated risk.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that overall suicide death rates have remained steady or have even fallen  during the pandemic. However, the pandemic has not affected all Americans equally. Job loss, housing instability, food insecurity, and other risk factors for poor outcomes have disproportionately impacted minority communities . Data from some states suggest the number of African Americans dying by suicide increased  in the early days of the pandemic. Also, recently CDC reported  that emergency room visits for suspected suicide attempts started to increase among adolescents ages 12 to 17—especially among girls—during the pandemic.

This discussion will be led by:

• Stephen O’Connor, Ph.D., chief of the Suicide Prevention Research Program in the NIMH Division of Services and Intervention Research
• Lynsay Ayer, Ph.D., NIMH Senior Advisor on Youth and Suicide Prevention
• Rajeev Ramchand, Ph.D., NIMH Senior Advisor on Epidemiology and Suicide Prevention

Participating is easy.

• Watch the livestream event on NIMH’s Facebook  or Twitter  feeds. You must have either a Facebook or Twitter account to watch.
• Follow NIMH on Facebook or Twitter for updates on the livestream event and other information about mental health research.
• Refresh NIMH’s Facebook or Twitter feeds at 3:30 p.m. ET on September 22nd to watch the livestream discussion.
• NIMH will provide sign language interpreters.

The livestream will be archived on NIMH’s website and Facebook  page so you can access it after the event is over.

Note: The experts cannot provide specific medical advice or referrals. Please consult with a qualified health care provider for diagnosis, treatment, and answers to your personal questions. If you need help finding a provider, visit www.nimh.nih.gov/findhelp. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  at 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 1-888-628-9454.