Be aware and understand the problem of youth suicide. By acknowledging the problem, we can take the proper steps to prevent this tragedy.

• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth ages 10–24.
  • Only the grouping of “unintentional injuries” (which includes drowning, car accidents, accidental drug overdoses, etc.) surpasses suicide as a leading cause of death. In fact, we lose more young people to suicide than to car accidents.

• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause for our nation’s 12 – 18 year olds.
  • This age group represents middle and high school ages, again only surpassed by the “unintentional injuries” grouping.

• In our nation’s early and pre-teen ages (10-14), suicide has now moved to the 2nd leading cause in our nation.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported in their 2021 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey that in the past 12 months:

• 42.3% of youth surveyed reported, “having felt hopeless or sad for a constant period of two weeks or greater.” This is the possible beginning of depression. Depression is one of the leading causes of suicide attempts and suicides in all age groups.
• 22.2% of youth surveyed reported, “having seriously considering suicide.” That represents almost 1 out of every 5 young people.
• 10.2% of youth surveyed reported, “having attempted suicide one or more times.” That is over 1 out of every 10 young people. The good news is that 9 out of 10 young people in our nation did NOT attempt suicide, but ONE is too many.

Suicide is a leading cause of PREVENTABLE death.