BENZONIA — Randy Rice is the fourth generation of his family to farm the same rolling acres in Benzie County. Originally purchased for $600 and a cow, the property was paid off before he was born. The Angus beef cattle munching on their morning hay are fetching good prices, enough to pay the bills this year.

More than a million ChatGPT users each week send messages that include “explicit indicators of potential suicidal planning or intent”, according to a blogpost published by OpenAI on Monday. The finding, part of an update on how the chatbot handles sensitive conversations, is one of the most direct statements from the artificial intelligence giant on the scale of how AI can exacerbate mental health issues.

In a notable initiative targeting the nationwide issue of suicide, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine are set to swiftly launch an expansive study, following a substantial $19.5 million grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Research has underscored a grim reality—nearly half of individuals who die by suicide had sought the counsel of a health care provider just weeks before their demise.

Did you know that September is Suicide Prevention Month? The National Alliance on Mental Illness encourages people to “Start a Conversation. Be the Difference.”

Checking in with friends, family or your co-workers about how they are doing can help prevent suicide. One meaningful conversation is all it could take to save someone’s life. Remember, talking about suicide is not dangerous. Not talking about suicide can be deadly.

Shrinking social lives, career disruption and emotional isolation: Experts warn that men face a disproportionate threat. They are the most likely group to die by suicide.

Nationally in 2022, the suicide rate was 14.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the risk spikes sharply for one group: men approaching retirement.

As a Black youth, celebrating your Blackness is a way to take care of yourself that has many positive effects on your mental health. It creates a strong sense of pride and connection to your racial identity, which has been shown to act as a buffer against stereotypes and unfair treatment based on your identity.