Suicide remains an urgent public health concern, with rates rising in the Americas alone among WHO regions since 2000.1 The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS) identifies three states in the potential causal pathway: thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and capability for lethal self-injury.2 Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) may exacerbate these states through inappropriate information and poorly calibrated responses. Millions, including vulnerable individuals, turn to GenAI for companionship or support, in lieu of human care.
Shannonhouse et al. (Wed,) studied this question.