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Suicide Rate Higher for People With Autism
University of Queensland-led (UQ)-led research has found people on the autism spectrum are almost three times more likely to die by suicide compared to non-autistic people.
Dr. Damian Santomauro from UQ’s School of Public Health and the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research led a team which conducted a systematic review of nearly 1500 international research papers.
“We aimed to quantify the risk, mortality and burden of suicide among people on the autism spectrum,” Santomauro said.
“There were several alarming findings in this study, including the fact people on the autism spectrum but without intellectual disability were more than five times more likely to die by suicide compared to people not on the autism spectrum.
“In 2021, the total years of life lost to the increased risk of suicide in the autistic community exceeded those lost to cocaine use, rabies or testicular cancer across the total global population.
Santomauro said there were likely many reasons for the higher associated risk.
“People on the autism spectrum often experience bullying, social rejection, stigma and discrimination — all risk factors for depressive disorders,” he said.
“There can also be other challenges for autistic people that impact their educational progress, employment, independent living and peer relationships.”
Santomauro said the findings showed a critical need for interventions and prevention strategies.
Nearly 40 States Back Surgeon General’s Social Media Warning Labels
A coalition of 42 state and territory attorneys general is calling on Congress to pass regulation requiring warning labels on social media platforms.
In a letter on Monday, the attorneys general wrote that the warning labels will bring attention to the “inherent risks” social platforms pose to children.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy first proposed the warning labels in June as part of a plan to avert the “mental health crisis” affecting young people. Attorneys general from a significant majority of states, including New York, California, Florida, Oregon, Michigan, and others, are writing in support of the measure, saying the move would help “protect future generations of Americans.”
The letter cites research linking social media use to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in young people, along with studies that suggest social platforms disrupt children’s sleep with “irresistible algorithmic recommendations, infinite scrolling, and a constant stream of notifications” to keep them “relentlessly engaged on the platform.”
The labels proposed by the surgeon general would be similar to the ones already used for alcohol and tobacco products.
‘Difficult’ Children Are Only Slightly More Likely to Have Insecure Attachments With Parents, Say Researchers
Children with difficult temperaments, including personality tendencies such as irritability and having a hard time being comforted, are only slightly more likely than other children to have insecure attachment relationships with one or both of their parents, according to our research.
This finding refutes the long-standing notion held by many psychologists that early attachment behaviors are mainly determined by a child’s temperament.
An attachment relationship reflects the child’s expectations about their caregiver in times of need.
A secure attachment is likely if a caregiver is consistently available and emotionally supportive when the child is alarmed.
However, if a child learns that their caregiver will not be there when needed or will not effectively soothe them, chances are they will develop an insecure attachment relationship with that caregiver.
As researchers in clinical psychology and child and family studies, we are interested in how the quality of child-caregiver relationships affects children’s development.
Expert Warns Social Media May Affect Children’s Mental Health, Academics
Teens and the effects of social media is a topic that has been researched and debated for years.
Some argue that social media is beneficial to teenagers because it allows them to easily connect with friends after school. Others argue that social media causes concerns.
Coordinator of Educational Leadership at Binghamton University Suzanne McLeod said that social media negatively affects everyone.
McLeod noted that people usually post the best parts of their day-to-day life, which, when observed by others, can cause self-depreciating thoughts.
“You start to think, ‘is everybody else living a better life than I am? Is everybody else more beautiful than I am? Is everybody else more talented than I am?’” said McLeod.
“That can take its toll on, definitely on children. I think it takes its toll on adults, too.”
McLeod told 12 News that in a recent study done by Boston University, students can’t totally focus on one lesson for 20 minutes after being distracted by their phone.
McLeod said, “It takes a child 20 minutes to refocus; high school and middle school classes are generally 40 minutes long. So, just one text can take away half of their learning time.”
McLeod said that adults should be weary of what they post to social media as children may be influenced by it.
Long Delays in NHS Care Causing Serious Damage to Children’s Health Across UK
Children across the U.K. are suffering serious damage to their health — including chronic pain, asthma flare-ups, weight loss and developmental problems — because of long delays for NHS care.
Some under-18s are finding it so hard to obtain prompt treatment for their diabetes or epilepsy that they are forced to turn to A&E for care because their health has deteriorated so badly.
Children’s doctors said the findings were “shocking” and warned that some children would endure “lifelong consequences” as a result of delays that could sometimes last several years.
The details have emerged in a dossier of evidence the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has collated illustrating the harm that treatment unavailability causes.
Australia Considers Banning Children Under 16 From Social Media
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia announced on Monday that his government will introduce legislation that would “enforce a minimum age for social media and other digital platforms.”
He followed up on Tuesday by informing the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he is considering making the platforms unavailable to children under the age of 14-16.
“Parents tell me they’re worried about what age their kids should be on social media,” he wrote on X. “We’ll introduce legislation in this term of Parliament to enforce a minimum age for social media and other digital platforms. It’s about supporting parents and keeping kids safe.”
“We’re looking at the range between 14 and 16,” he stated on Tuesday. “That’s one of the reasons we’re having a trial. And what we’re looking at is how you deliver it.
This is a global issue that governments around the globe are trying to deal with. And so we can look at the experience, look at the response, as well, of social media companies.
Social media has a social responsibility in order to have that social license that they require to operate in a decent society.”
