Washington families seek jail improvements, one settlement at a time In a new legal settlement finalized Dec. 4, commissioners for Klickitat County in south-central Washington have committed to broad changes intended to improve medical care in jail and prevent suicides. Amy Radil
'Say Something' tip line in schools flags gun violence threats, study finds A new study in Pediatrics shows that an anonymous tip line for students is catching some gun threats before they can escalate. It is part of an effort to treat gun violence as a public health problem. Rhitu Chatterjee Play AudioListen 3 mins
Suicide rates rose in 2022 overall but declined for teens and young adults Provisional data from 2022 showed a bright spot in the trend of rising suicides in the U.S. Rhitu Chatterjee
Claim alleges Garfield County Jail failed to detect suicide for 18 hours The family of a man who took his own life in a Garfield County Jail last April has filed an $8.5 million tort claim over his death. Amy Radil Play AudioListen 2 mins
Suicide and staffing issues at King County Jail, ‘a radioactive subject’ “There have been twice the number of suicides in the King County Jail system since the beginning of 2020 than there were in the prior eight years.” Andy Hurst Play AudioListen 8 mins
Changes in law enforcement may be leading to fewer guns at home The City and County of Spokane have seen an unprecedented number of gun removals so far this year. And while there are different reasons a person can have firearms removed from their home, some of this increase appears to be driven by a change in how courts are treating domestic violence protection orders. Libby Denkmann Play AudioListen 30 mins
Health expert recommends better listening and connection to confront rise in youth suicides ‘I really want to encourage parents and caregivers to start to normalize a culture around checking in regularly, asking open-ended questions.’ And if your kids just shut you down? ‘The key there is to not give up.’ John O'Brien Play AudioListen 13 mins
New report shows that more people are dying in King County jails King County has seen a spike in jail deaths during the first part of this year. And that’s raising questions about conditions and staffing at the facility. Libby Denkmann Play AudioListen 10 mins
Jails in Washington and Oregon have higher suicide rate than national average Over the past two decades, more than 200 people have died by suicide in Washington and Oregon jails. That puts the two Northwest states above the national average for jail suicides, according to a new report. Austin Jenkins Play AudioListen 2 mins
Since 9/11, Military Suicides Are 4 Times Higher Than Deaths In War Operations The new data highlights the divide between the dangers posed by war and the persistent mental health crisis in not only the military but the country at large. Joe Hernandez
