Why predicting suicide is so hard

Edition: US - Today's top story: Why predicting suicide is a difficult and complex challenge [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 9 June 2018 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair]( Editor's note The suicides this week of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain saddened and shocked people to their core. How could someone who is so successful and deeply loved feel so despondent? Florida State University scholar Joseph Franklin explains why “[we can only predict who is going to die by suicide slightly more accurately than random guessing](.” Last month, the boy band BTS became the first Korean pop group to have an album top the Billboard charts. So how did BTS succeed in the U.S., a country where other [K-pop groups have historically struggled to attract a following](? The University of Oregon’s Susanna Lim argues this says as much about their talent as it does about Korea’s expanding role in global affairs. President Trump has been briefly in Quebec this weekend, attending the most controversial G-7 summit in years. That’s mostly because his recent foreign policy decisions, particularly on trade, [have been inconsistent and alarming]( to allies, argues Georgia State’s Charles Hankla. The political scientist explores whether there’s a method to the madness – or whether it’s just madness. And, finally, we want to know what you think about The Conversation. How do we compare to other news sources you read? Are there ways we could improve? [Please take a few moments to give us your feedback]( (and note that we are focussing this year particularly on our science coverage, at the request of one of our funders). Lynne Anderson Health + Medicine Editor Top stories Anthony Bourdain, left, and Kate Spade, right. The Conversation with images from PeabodyAwards/flickr [Why predicting suicide is a difficult and complex challenge]( Joseph Franklin, Florida State University The suicides this week of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain shocked and saddened many. And the news was disturbing. Why is it so hard to know who might commit suicide? BTS performs ‘Fake Love’ at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2018. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP [How Korean boy band BTS toppled Asian stereotypes – and took America by storm]( Susanna Lim, University of Oregon K-pop has been hugely popular in Asia, but has never able to catch on in the U.S. – until BTS topped the Billboard 200. Trump answers questions before departing the White House on his way to the G7 in Quebec. Reuters/Kevin Lamarque [G-7 summit: Trump could be using advanced game theory negotiating techniques – or he's hopelessly adrift]( Charles Hankla, Georgia State University Trump's unpredictable and inconsistent policies will have consequences as the president faces down allies at the G7 over trade and Kim Jong Un in Singapore over nukes. Politics + Society [Not just a place to live: From homelessness to citizenship]( Michael Rowe, Yale University; Charles Barber, Wesleyan University Solving homelessness doesn't just mean finding someone a physical home. A program run in New Haven, Connecticut, focuses on helping people see themselves as members of their communities – as citizens. [Young people crossing the border alone face challenges in the US homes where they're placed]( Stephanie L. Canizales, Texas A&M University Interviews with hundreds of unaccompanied minors in Los Angeles reveal that relationships with US sponsors can be complicated. Ethics + Religion [How the American Bible Society became evangelical]( John Fea, Messiah College The American Bible Society, with an annual revenue of nearly $370 million, is one of the largest religious nonprofits, and a highly influential one. [How a masculine culture that favors sexual conquests gave us today's 'incels']( Ross Haenfler, Grinnell College Incels compare themselves to other men, before blaming women for withholding sex from, in their perception, deserving men. Economy + Business [Social Security’s future is safe]( Christian Weller, University of Massachusetts Boston Social Security will have to dip into its trust fund to pay benefits this year for the first time since 1982. Should we be worried? [Only 1 in 4 women who have been sexually harassed tell their employers. Here's why they're afraid]( Margaret E. Johnson, University of Baltimore Courts have created three legal barriers that have made it much harder for workers to complain to their employers about sexual harassment. Environment + Energy [Spending time alone in nature is good for your mental and emotional health]( Brad Daniel, Montreat College; Andrew Bobilya, Western Carolina University; Ken Kalisch, Montreat College Many studies have shown that time outdoors is good for our physical health. Three wilderness education experts explain why periods alone in nature also provide mental and spiritual benefits. [The nuclear industry is making a big bet on small power plants]( Scott L. Montgomery, University of Washington Advanced small modular reactors, known as SMRs, will probably have many advantages over older technology. But it's not yet known how they will stack up against other sources of electricity. Education [Free-range parenting gets legal protection in Utah – but should the state dictate how to parent?]( David Pimentel, University of Idaho Utah's new 'free-range' parenting law restores certain rights to parents regarding when they can leave their children unattended. But does the law go too far or not far enough? [Limits on Chinese graduate student visas may protect US intellectual property but drive away talent]( Jack Marr, Boise State University The Trump administration’s plans to restrict visas for Chinese students to curtail intellectual property theft may be necessary, but could also scare away talent, a U.S-China relations expert warns. Health + Medicine [Why Mister Rogers' message of love and kindness is good for your health]( Richard Gunderman, Indiana University As the documentary about 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' hits theaters today, it's worth noting that Rogers' emphasis on kindness and love is proving to be very important to good health. Here's why. [Eating disorders are hard to overcome, but ditching diets is crucial]( Catherine Gillespie, Drake University In a diet-obsessed culture, eating disorders pose a severe threat. While the reasons for the disorders are varied, a consistent approach in treatment can help people stop dieting and feel safe. Science + Technology [With federal funding for science on the decline, what's the role of a profit motive in research?]( David R. Johnson, University of Nevada, Reno Money always seems tight for university scientists. A sociologist conducted hundreds of interviews to see how they think about funding sources and profit motives for basic and applied research. ['Jurassic Park' made a dinosaur-sized leap forward in computer-generated animation on screen, 25 years ago]( Adam Bargteil, University of Maryland, Baltimore County The first time computer-generated characters interacted with humans on a movie screen was 25 years ago, in 'Jurassic Park.' Since then, technology has improved, giving directors more choices. Arts + Culture [How the Ford F-150 became king of cars]( M. Berk Talay, University of Massachusetts Lowell For 30 years, it’s been the best-selling vehicle in the US. [The slippery slope of dehumanizing language]( Allison Skinner, Northwestern University Dehumanizing insults have become more common in political discourse. Psychology research has shown that they can prime us for violence – and even change our brains. [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111