Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in America. And black youth in particular face increasing suicide rates and challenges in accessing mental health services. Scholar and advocate Kimya Dennis dives into the background behind these suicide statistics, what prevents black youth from getting help, and how mental health providers can address this disconnect.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) any time of day.

For More on this Topic:

• Read Dennis’s SSN briefs, Debunking Myths about Mental Illness Among Blacks and The Complexities of Black Youth Suicide
• Check out her piece for The Conversation, Suicide Isn’t Just a White People Thing

An unexpected surgery can cost a worker thousands in medical bills. And in states without paid family and medical leave, they also have to go without a paycheck while recovering. Professors Randy Albelda and Alan Clayton-Matthews explain why paid family and medical leave is important to small businesses, workers, and their families, and how Massachusetts tackled this policy problem with help from their research.

• Read Clayton-Matthews and Albelda’s SSN brief, Why Massachusetts Can Afford to Require Paid Family and Medical Leave for All Workers
• Check out this Boston Globe article about the Massachusetts policy

Knowledge is power. Or at least that’s how the saying goes — but when it comes to climate change and its causes, that knowledge hasn’t translated into action. Postdoctoral Fellow Matthew Motta discusses why climate research is often disregarded, where Americans’ suspicion of scientists comes from, and how our interest in science affects our trust in scientists.

For More on this Topic:

• Read Motta’s SSN brief, How Interest in Science Boosts Trust in Climate Scientists
• Check out his radio interview on the rise of anti-intellectualism

Having a warm and comfortable home is important for health and well-being. But with rising rent prices and growing inequality, it can be tough – if not impossible – to find a place to live. Professors Rosie Tighe and Megan Hatch explain why the U.S. has such a shortage of affordable housing, how government programs help, and why they often fall short.

• Read Tighe and Hatch’s SSN brief, How Fair Housing Programs Can be Bolstered by Laws Prohibiting Source of Income Discrimination
• Check out their piece with Joseph Mead in Shelterforce, Section 8 Allowed
• Find Joseph Mead’s New York Times opinion piece on their nuisance ordinance research

Since 9/11, fears about extremism have shaped the public’s view of Islam. And American policies often reflect these fears, zeroing in on Muslims and Muslim-Americans in the name of national security. Professor Rachel Gillum explores whether these policies work, why we use them, and how they impact Muslims in America.

• Read Gillum’s SSN brief, Assessing– and Reducing– Public Fear of Muslims
• Find her book, Muslims in a Post-9/11 America
• Check out her piece in Talking Points Memo on racism as a national security issue