Sobering stats about suicide by children and teenagers have been released this week.
The Kansas State Child Death Review Board says youth suicides between the ages of 10 and 17 were up from 20 in 2016 to 32 in 2017, an increase of 50 percent and a rate of 4.5 per 100,000. That’s an increase from 1.3 people per 100,000 a decade ago.
The report announced Wednesday by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office comes near the end of National Suicide Prevention Month — and it comes at a time when local youths seem to be more aware of mental wellness resources. CrossWinds Counseling and Wellness CEO Amanda Cunningham says more teenagers are coming in to seek help, and she says CrossWinds’ presence in local and area schools is a big reason why.
Of the 32 youths who died by suicide two years ago, two-thirds either were receiving mental health services when they died or had earlier. Close to 30 percent of the youths also had a history of substance abuse, according to the report. The study also says teen girls are more likely to try suicide, but teen boys are more likely to complete suicide attempts. Beacon for Hope Suicide Prevention Director Melissa Kurtenbach says social media has had a negative impact on a lot of children and teenagers.
On the other side, Kurtenbach says the growth of text-based services, notably help lines or lifelines, can empower youths to speak up when they otherwise would not do so.
Both Kurtenbach and Cunningham says it’s important for youths to realize they can talk about their situations with friends, parents, other family members or mentors without judgment or anger.
The report lists predisposing factors, including mental health concerns, previous suicide attempts, family history and abuse. It also lists precipitating factors like access to suicide methods, social stress or isolation and exposure to suicide.
Nationally, suicide was the second-leading cause of death among children ages 10 to 14 and among people ages 15 to 24.
Contact information
*National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
*Beacon for Hope Suicide Prevention: 620-208-9926, www.hopelinks.org
*CrossWinds Counseling and Wellness: 620-343-2211 (main), www.crosswindsks.org
