By Franklin P. Schargel
Editor’s Note: This is part one in a series on the causes and prevention of teenage suicide.
Suicide is now the second-leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), trailing only unintentional injuries. Since 2016, teenage suicide has overtaken homicide as the second leading cause of death for adolescents. The number of attempts is far greater than the number of completed suicides — experts estimate many attempts for every life lost — which makes understanding and preventing youth suicide a public health priority.
How Serious is the Problem?
- Every day a large number of adolescents make suicide attempts; estimates commonly cited indicate that in any given 24-hour period hundreds of teens will attempt suicide, and hundreds of thousands of adolescents endure at least one serious, nonfatal attempt each year.
- The fastest-growing group completing suicide is children between the ages of 10 and 14, a deeply troubling trend that demands increased attention to younger adolescents.
- On average, a teenager or young adult dies by suicide roughly every 90 minutes in the United States.
- Although overall suicide rates fluctuated over recent decades, rates among those aged 15 to 24 have risen sharply at times, and the adolescent suicide rate is substantially higher than the rate for the overall population.
- Gender differences are pronounced: males die by suicide at a higher rate than females, while females attempt suicide more often. The greater fatality among males is largely related to the use of more lethal methods, most commonly firearms.
- Firearms are the most commonly used method of suicide among males in the U.S., and the presence of a gun in the home increases the risk of a fatal outcome. For this reason, safe firearm storage — keeping guns unloaded, locked, and inaccessible to children and teens — is critically important.
- Drug overdose, whether using prescription, over-the-counter, or illicit substances, remains a common method of both attempted and fatal suicide. Careful monitoring and secure storage of medications can reduce access.
- Suicide affects sexual minority youth at higher rates than their peers. Studies indicate that gay, lesbian, and bisexual teens face increased risk, and that risk is amplified in unsupportive or hostile environments.
- Research has shown geographic and social context matter: gay and bisexual teens are more likely to attempt suicide in politically conservative or less supportive communities compared with more inclusive settings.
- Warning signs are often present: organizations focused on suicide prevention report that a majority of people who die by suicide gave some form of warning to friends or family. Paying attention to changes in behavior, expressions of hopelessness, or direct threats can save lives.
- Young people who make one suicide attempt are at significantly higher risk of repeating an attempt; roughly half of children who attempt once will make another attempt unless they receive appropriate intervention and support.
- Demographic trends differ across groups. For example, suicide rates among African-American males aged 15 to 19 increased substantially in past decades, underscoring the need for culturally responsive prevention and support.
- National estimates by public health agencies have found that a notable percentage of adults report having attempted suicide or experienced suicidal thoughts in a given year, reflecting the broader scope of suicidal behavior beyond adolescence.
Overdose and access to lethal means are recurring concerns. Teens may trade or store medications at school, carry pills in backpacks, or have easy access to unsecured medications at home. Limiting access to both firearms and medications, monitoring for changes in mood or behavior, and maintaining open lines of communication are practical steps families and schools can take immediately.
In part two of this series we will examine the underlying causes and risk factors behind these alarming trends and outline concrete steps that parents, educators, and peers can take to prevent suicide and support at-risk youth. Until then, anyone concerned about a young person’s safety should take all threats or warning signs seriously and seek professional help right away.
About the Author
Franklin P. Schargel is a former classroom teacher, school counselor, and school administrator who designed and implemented programs that increased parental engagement, boosted postsecondary attendance, and reduced dropout rates at a Title I high school. His work has been recognized by national news organizations and education authorities. Schargel served as Education Division Chair for the American Society for Quality and contributed to the development of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Education.
He is an internationally recognized speaker, trainer, and author of thirteen books, including Creating Safe Schools: A Guide for School Leaders, Classroom Teachers, Counselors and Parents. He has also written more than 100 articles on school reform and safety.
This article was originally published by The Learning Counsel, a research institute and news media organization focused on the transition to digital curriculum in education.