• Georgia: According to provisional CDC data, the U.S. suicide rate declined slightly in 2024 after reaching its highest level in over 80 years. In 2024, the age-adjusted suicide rate was 13.7 deaths per 100,000 people, a slight decline from 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023. Overall, there were around 48,800 deaths from suicide in 2024, 500 fewer than in 2023. Suicide rates were relatively stable for most age groups, but suicide deaths fell significantly among those ages 25 to 34. Health experts caution that suicide is complicated, and several factors can contribute to attempts, including higher rates of depression, limited availability of mental health services, and the availability of guns. "There's a lot to dig into as we're starting to think about what could be responsible for a potential decline," including "whether this is a blip on the radar" or the start of a sustained decline, said Katherine Keyes, a professor of public health at Columbia University. (Bean, Becker's Hospital Review, 12/11; Stobbe, Associated Press, 12/10)
• Indiana: Eli Lilly is planning to build a new facility to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients for small molecule and peptide medicines, including its experimental oral GLP-1 drug orforglipron. The facility will be built in Huntsville, Alabama, and cost $6 billion. According to Lilly, it selected the location partly due to its proximity to the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, which helps support bioscience workforce development. Construction is scheduled to begin next year, with completion expected in 2032. The project is expected to create 3,000 construction positions and 450 full-time positions. Aside from this new facility in Alabama, Lilly has also announced expansions in Texas, Virginia, and Puerto Rico. An additional new U.S. location is expected to be announced in the next few weeks. (Jeffries, Becker's Hospital Review, 12/10)
• New York: Pfizer has signed a global collaboration and license agreement with YaoPharma for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of an early-stage GLP-1 drug called YP05002. YaoPharma, a subsidiary of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group, will complete an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of the drug before granting Pfizer exclusive worldwide rights to further develop and commercialize the treatment. Under the deal, Pfizer will pay YaoPharma $150 million upfront and could pay up to $1.935 billion for development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties on sales if the drug is approved. Recently, Pfizer has made an effort to enter the obesity market. Last month, the company agreed to acquire the obesity drugmaker Metsera for $10 billion. (Jeffries, Becker's Hospital Review, 12/9)

Hear from three behavioral health leaders about how they’re approaching digital health, workforce, crisis care, and, of course, financial sustainability in behavioral healthcare.