We Can Stop Teen Suicide

"He is 15. He feels alone, down almost every day. He tells me he's having trouble with schoolwork. He worries about his future. He struggles to make friends and keep the ones he has. He says it's hard to get out of bed, to shower and brush his teeth. He doesn't find joy in things he used to love, like painting."

"I met him in our emergency department; he was in the middle of a crisis and came to us for help. Alex has depression and anxiety, and these feelings had been going on for about one year. Recently, he told me he'd been thinking about hurting himself or overdosing on medication. These thoughts were becoming more frequent. He talked a lot about wanting to die."

"The teenage years are difficult. Our kids carry huge emotional burdens, and more youths than ever face anxiety, depression or have trouble regulating their emotions. Unfortunately, suicide is now the second leading cause of death in youth ages 10 to 24. Among this age group, suicide rates have risen more than 60 percent in the last 20 years. Chronic physical health issues, abuse or other traumatic events, substance use, bullying or negative experiences with social media,"

A 15-year-old named Alex reports persistent low mood, social withdrawal, academic problems, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty with basic self-care for about one year. He presented to the emergency department during a crisis and disclosed increasing thoughts of self-harm and overdose, frequently expressing a desire to die. Teen suicide is now the second leading cause of death for ages 10–24, with rates rising over 60% in 20 years. Major risk factors include chronic physical illness, trauma or abuse, substance use, bullying, harmful social media experiences, and personal or family history of suicidal thoughts or attempts. Parental recognition and prompt clinical response are critical for prevention.

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