+ Louisiana criminalizes possession of abortion pills US Edition - Today's top story: More military veterans and active duty service members are dying by suicide than in battle â understanding why can help with prevention [View in browser]( US Edition | 27 May 2024 [The Conversation]
[The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Previewing the closing arguments for Trumpâs trial](
- [Poets explore Memorial Day](
- [How dogs help vets with PTSD]( Lead story The first time I saw the San Francisco National Cemetery was during a run along the forested trails of the Presidio, when I stumbled upon a procession of white tombstones. Arrayed in a quiet, orderly formation, they seemed to disappear down a green slope into the shimmering waters of the bay, where the Golden Gate Bridge loomed like a specter buttressing the horizon. Iâve since run past the low stone wall encircling the cemetery enough times to usually spare it not much more than a glance. But Iâm always struck by the centuries of bodies resting beneath my feet, of the sheer number of people who gave up their lives to protect this land. Iâll also find myself thinking of the lost bodies in the waters beneath the Golden Gate Bridge â including that of the veteran who was the first person recorded to jump off it. Active duty service members and veterans are still dying of suicide â four times as many have died by suicide than died in battle since 9/11. April Smith, a psychology scholar at Auburn University, has spent nearly two decades studying why certain groups of people, including service members, experience high rates of suicidal thoughts and acts. She notes that while researchers already know the factors that put service members at risk of suicide, increasing rates suggest that a [different approach to studying suicide among service members is needed for prevention](. âBased on our study results, considering how the military both fosters and hinders a sense of belonging and effectiveness could help address suicide risk factors,â she writes. [ [Understand whatâs going on in Washington and around the world. Get our Politics Weekly newsletter.]( ] Vivian Lam Associate Health and Biomedicine Editor
Active duty service members and veterans experience unique stresses that can lead to suicide. MivPiv/iStock via Getty Images Plus
[More military veterans and active duty service members are dying by suicide than in battle â understanding why can help with prevention]( April Smith, Auburn University Suicide among military service members in the US is a growing problem. A lack of a sense of belonging and feeling like a burden are key risk factors. Health + Medicine -
[Louisiana set to reclassify abortion pills as controlled, dangerous substances â hereâs what that means]( Jamie Rowen, UMass Amherst; Tami S. Rowen, University of California, San Francisco The legislation would make it illegal to possess 2 types of abortion pills without a prescription. -
[Service dogs can help veterans with PTSD â growing evidence shows they may reduce anxiety in practical ways]( Leanne Nieforth, Purdue University; Marguerite E. O'Haire, Purdue University Traditional treatments for PTSD, such as talk therapy and medication, do work for some veterans. But service dogs can make a difference when those methods fall short. Politics + Society -
[What to watch for in Trump trialâs closing arguments, from a law school professor who teaches and studies them]( Jules Epstein, Temple University Closing arguments tell the jury why the evidence is believable or not, how the facts are linked or not and, most importantly, why their decision to either acquit or convict is moral and just. Economy + Business -
[Workplace besties: How to build relationships at work while staying professional]( Jason Walker, Adler University For young people in their 20s, the workplace is an ideal place to connect and make friends. Hereâs how to make the most of these relationships. International -
[As international support for an independent Palestine grows, hereâs what Israelis and Palestinians now think of the two-state solution]( Colin John Irwin, University of Liverpool The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is opposed to a two-state solution, but many ordinary Israelis and Palestinians donât feel the same way. Memorial Day -
[The forgotten history of Memorial Day]( Richard Gardiner, Columbus State University Memorial Day was born out of generous gestures after the Civil War: Southerners decorated graves of Confederate soldiers as well as those of former Union enemies. -
[What veteransâ poems can teach us about healing on Memorial Day]( James Dubinsky, Virginia Tech An Army veteran and professor of rhetoric explores poetry written by veterans about a divisive holiday born of the Civil War. -
[How crosses and mementos help some Marines remember fallen comrades]( Katrina Stack, University of Tennessee; Derek H. Alderman, University of Tennessee For some military members, a hillside in California embodies the sacrifices of serving. -
[What really started the American Civil War?]( Robert Gudmestad, Colorado State University There was one central reason the Civil War happened. Podcast ðï¸ -
[If an asteroid hit Earth and all the humans died, would the dinosaurs come back? The Conversationâs Curious Kids podcast]( Eloise Stevens, The Conversation Paleontologist Bill Ausich explains whether dinosaurs could ever roam the Earth again. Listen on The Conversationâs Curious Kids podcast. Trending on site -
[Animals self-medicate with plants â behavior people have observed and emulated for millennia]( -
[An ancient manuscript up for sale gives a glimpse into the history of early Christianity]( -
[Colorado takes a new â and likely more effective â approach to the housing crisis]( Today's graphic ð [In 21 states, high court judges are selected via popular elections. Of these, seven hold partisan elections, and 14 hold nonpartisan elections, meaning the judges' political parties are not identified on the ballot. In 26 states, governors choose the judges for the state's highest court, with help from a nominating commission, a confirmation vote by another elected body, or both. In two states, Virginia and South Carolina, lawmakers vote to choose the judges. And in New Mexico, the governor appoints justices who must also win a partisan election shortly after taking office.]( From the story, [Georgia Supreme Court justice appointed by governor wins election to full term â a common occurrence in some states where voters are supposed to pick their judges]( -
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