by Stevi Valenzuela
September has started and as many know, it’s the month of Suicide Awareness. In 2017, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) conducted a study that showed that since 2009, the percentage of students seriously considering suicide has increased dramatically, many of them being young females. From the year 2009 to 2017 the percentage of kids seriously thinking about suicide had risen by 25% in all areas.
In 2017 the number of suicide-related deaths was roughly 6,200 teens from ages 15-24, making it the second most leading cause of death in the age group. The 2019 YRBSS showed that 18.8% of students consider it and 8.9% attempt it.
These numbers are staggering. Suicide prevention needs to start with you. Some ways to prevent this is to acknowledge the signs your peers give you. Some tell-tale warning signs include the following: talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live, talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain, talking about being a burden to others, increasing the use of alcohol or drugs, acting anxious or agitated, behaving recklessly, sleeping too little or too much, withdrawing or isolating themselves, showing rage or talking about seeking revenge and extreme mood swings.
How can you help your peers? If you see any of the signs in one of your friends or classmates you should reach out to them and ask if they are okay or how they are feeling. Get them connected to some form of support, whether it be you, a teacher, or a counselor. Help them find resources like a phone number, a web page, or someone they can talk to. And lastly, follow up, continue to check on them once a day or once a week and really let them know you are there to help them and that you care.
In efforts to help prevent suicide and keep students from feeling like they have to go though things alone, the school staff has put together a mental health website. This website was made public last year due to the rise of COVID-19 and the hardships students went through alone at home all day everyday. The website has many resources on it, such as common misconceptions of mental health and the similarities and differences of mental health and mental illness. The webpage has resources for students to meet with a teacher or counselor if they are struggling with anything, as well as steps to take to help maintain a good mental state. You can also call the suicide prevention line at 800-273-8255. Remember you’re never alone. There are others out here to help and listen.
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