Old-and-New Fangled Ways Help Thwart Suicides These are tricky times for sure, but it seems times have been difficult for awhile for many, if you view suicide rates as a direct expression of ‘difficult times.’ For more than a decade, health officials have watched in vain as suicide rates climbed steadily — by 30 percent nationally since 2000. Doctors have traditionally gauged patients’ risks by looking at past mental health diagnoses and incidents of substance abuse, and by drawing on experience and medical instinct. But doctors and mental health experts can’t crack the code when it comes to identifying which patients are in real danger. Turns out that AI programs explore more factors and allow healthcare professionals to identify more at-risk patients. Very good news indeed. But identify people is only half the equation...the other half—arguably the most critical half—is who is most likely to profit from an intervention...and be open to the help. Reaching people to communicate that they are not alone nor misunderstood, can happen whether the old fashioned ways or new-fangled ways... The critical element is to reach people...using AI and other predictive capabilities certainly can help reach more people and is the finest use of technology that I can contemplate. …see more