Losing Our Youth

            Suicide is the third leading cause of death among children ages ten through nineteen (Bridge et al.). This alarming statistic is only continuing to get worse, and the problem must be addressed before suicide as a cause of death rises any higher on that list. Suicide claims the lives of more youth in our country than cancer, drugs, or COVID-19 (National Institute of Mental Health). The rising rates in the youth suicide trend, along with the ages of these victims, highlights the scope of this issue and the necessity for action. Preventative measures must be put in place in order to combat these rising numbers. While a tough issue to tackle, there are possible solutions to positively impact this rise, and hopefully, end this cause of death altogether.  Although the increase in suicide rates among youth, ages ten through nineteen, in this country is a widespread social epidemic, there are solutions such as better awareness, more access to resources and professional care, and the use of emerging therapy techniques that can be implemented to see change.

            By informing the public and bringing awareness to mental health issues, such as suicide, there will be an increased responsiveness towards those who are suicidal. Awareness could be achieved through various approaches, including school assemblies, social media campaigns, and better facilitated discussions.  According to a 2002 World Psychiatric Association (WPA) global study, conducted to raise knowledge about youth suicide, “it was possible to change attitudes, including those about suicide, by influencing the behavioral responses of the pupils and parents that partook in the study with slightly poorer results for the participating teachers” (Wasserman et al.). Outlining and publicizing behaviors to watch out for may help protect potentially suicidal individuals by alerting those around them. The Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE) intervention study designed and implemented an awareness program for multiple students, in many countries. In this program, students were given the opportunity to discuss and work through difficult subjects with a trained mental health professional, without fearing judgement from teachers or peers. These professionals were referred to as Awareness Coordinators, who reported that, “the program successfully promoted social networks in all countries” (Wasserman et al.). These social networks provided the students with a space to discuss their issues, as well as pointed them to resources and help available to them. By correcting the lack of resources and awareness among the public, we may begin to see a decline in the youth suicide rates.

            Along with improved general awareness, improved access to healthcare may greatly impact the suicide trend among youth we see today. Mental Health facilities and professionals can be found in many states throughout the country, but there is still a shortage. Data from the National Survey of Mental Health Treatment Facilities (NSMHTF) highlighted this issue, showing that “only 63% of U.S. counties have a MH (mental health) facility that provides outpatient treatment for children/adolescents” (Cummings et al.). These numbers get even worse in rural areas, despite having plenty of need for facilities. Although issues like budget and geography play a large role in this shortage, there is still room for improvements to be made.

The NSMHTF proposes that one way to combat these issues, “is to expand the capacity of primary care safety-net facilities such as federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) or rural health clinics (RHC) to provide youth MH services” (Cummings et al.). Because primary care facilities are so much more common than MH facilities, implementing MH programs within these facilities would greatly increase access for many young, rural Americans. In fact, “up to 80% of youth who die by suicide were seen by their PCC (pediatric primary care) or an outpatient physician in the year prior to their death” (Bridge et al.). By providing these facilities with proper training and resources, they could become the most effective preventive method.

            The implementation of emerging therapy techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may also greatly decrease these trends. CBT has been proven to be effective in preventing recurrent suicide attempts in adults (Bridge et al.), although there is little research provided for adolescents. CBT is interesting and differs from many other therapy techniques because one of its main goals is to “reduce the severity of established risk factors for suicidal behavior such as depression, suicide ideation and impulsivity” (Stanley et al.). By targeting these risk factors and developing various skills, such as coping mechanisms, CBT can provide youth with a better idea of how to combat their possible suicidal ideations. Data and results regarding CBT can be difficult to obtain due to the refusal and drop-out rates seen from adolescents partaking in therapy (Bridge et al.). CBT is a technique that requires regular and consistent sessions, making it more difficult for some patients to implement it into their lives.

             Another suicide prevention tactic, and a less demanding part of CBT, that is becoming more widely used is a safety plan. With a goal of keeping patients safe at least until the next session, therapist often form a safety plan within the first few visits which, “provides patients with a prioritized and specific set of coping strategies and sources of support that can be used during a suicidal crisis” (Bridge et al.). Seemingly simple steps such as this one can greatly impact the actions of those who are suicidal, by setting them up with the proper tools and methods to employ in their times of crisis.

            As the figures and data surrounding youth suicide emerge, the call to action becomes louder and louder. This issue is proving itself to be a social epidemic that requires preventative measures in order to be contained. By increasing and improving the awareness surrounding this issue, adolescents may experience better attitudes towards the discussion of suicide and related issues. Another way to combat the youth suicide trends, is improved care through primary facilities, as well as an increase and spread of mental health facilities. Lastly, a more frequent use of newer therapy methods such as CBT and safety plans, may greatly contribute to a decline in these trends. Suicide is unfortunately something many Americans have a close experience with, despite a lack of knowledge and concern regarding suicide among youth. As a country and within individual communities, preventative steps must be taken before we lose more youth to this tragic cause of death.