Experts Advocate for Essential Reforms as Youth Suicide Rates Surge in the Last Decade

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that suicide rates among children have been steadily increasing. For children and young adults, suicide rates have risen by 62% from 2007 through 2021. Among those aged 10 to 14, suicide rates tripled from 2007 through 2018, then remained stable. Meanwhile, suicide rates for teens aged 15 to 19 surpassed the 2020 benchmark after having increased from 2009 through 2017. Homicide rates for children in these age groups have also increased. Although not as high as in the 1990s, the increasing rates over more than 10 years are a cause for concern, said Laura Erickson-Schroth, MD, MA, a psychiatrist and the chief medical officer for The Jed Foundation.

According to Erickson-Schroth, the world young people inhabit and the tools they have access to are contributing factors to the rising suicide rates. Global issues like pandemics, school shootings, wars, economic strains, racial violence, and legislation that directly targets youths and minority demographics are significantly affecting them. These societal issues, combined with financial constraints and a lack of diversity among health providers, reduce resource availability and exacerbate the issue, especially among LGBTQIA+ youth and youth of color. Young people today also experience less community and connection than previous generations. In-person interaction with friends has dropped 70% from 2003 to 2020. Social media, a lifeline for some, may also be harmful if not regulated appropriately. The emphasis on appearance and sexuality, the influencer culture, and cyberbullying are all detrimental to mental health in young people and increase the risk of self-harm.

To prevent further loss of young lives, all levels of society should intervene and recognize the early warning signals. Talking to young people about suicide is a crucial first step, and sharing personal experiences can help. Safe spaces and resources for mental health professionals should be readily available to all, especially those belonging to high-risk groups. Parents, educators, and other community members should engage with children and learn healthy problem-solving skills and early warning signs. Access to school counselors and mental health professionals should be increased, according to Avigail Lev, PsyD, a psychotherapist, and founder of Bay Area CBT Center.

There also needs to be more preventative efforts that address mental health in our youth as a routine, built-in part of overall health, Alcera said. “We must, from early on, teach our children coping skills and how to put their thoughts and feelings in perspective.”

Governments and policymakers also should prioritize mental health initiatives, including increased funding for mental health services, and research, said Lev.

“This includes fostering dialogue around social issues, addressing systemic inequalities, and creating opportunities for youth to be involved in meaningful social change,” she said.

Another way to address increasing suicide and homicide rates is to find ways where parents, healthcare professionals, and educators can collaborate to ensure issues are caught before they escalate.

Alcera believes pediatricians are in the perfect position to be gatekeepers when it comes to children and their mental health and points to a similar initiative in New Jersey.

“Hackensack Meridian Health, for example, helped develop the New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative, where pediatricians consult with on-call psychiatrists,” he said. “The collaborative, which includes other health systems in New Jersey, allows pediatricians to screen for mental health conditions and get guidance from a psychiatrist before things reach a crisis point.”

Schools also are in a unique position to address mental health and firearm safety among young people with prevention programs and open dialogues.

For instance, The Jed Foundation has worked with more than 500 high schools and colleges to help them develop customized, strategic plans that build on their existing strengths, Erickson-Schroth said.

She listed seven strategy areas these plans focus on: developing life skills and resilience, fostering school connectedness and youth engagement, increasing help-seeking, enabling early identification of at-risk students, increasing student access to effective mental health treatment, establishing crisis management procedures for students, and reducing access to lethal means.

Ultimately, it’s crucial to remember that a young person’s experience of the world today is different from the experiences of young people in previous generations. This directly impacts their mental health, said Erickson-Schroth.

“Luckily, there are real, actionable solutions that can help to improve emotional health and prevent suicide in young people,” she said. “Creating a more healthy community is all of our responsibility.”