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Some of California’s suicide hotlines provide a “valuable and trusted service” to callers in distress, but they could be doing an even better job, according to a new study released Tuesday. Researchers at the Rand Corporation, a Santa Monica-based think tank, found that hotline staff had good rapport with callers and were able to ease their distress in some cases. But the hotlines could better integrate their services with existing health care providers and add new ways to connect with the public, such as online chats, the study said. (Ibarra, 7/12)

Youth suicide has increased in Santa Clara County since 2003, is higher among males and is often preceded by a crisis or mental health problem, according to a preliminary report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The so-called "Epi-Aid" investigation was requested by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department in response to a pair of suicide clusters in Palo Alto. Four youths died by suicide in 2014 and 2015, and six did in 2009 and 2010, mostly on the Caltrain tracks. (Green, 7/13)