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Education Dive
Report: Adolescent suicide rate hits 20-year high
Amelia Harper
June 21, 2019
Dive Brief:
Recent research published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association indicates the suicide rate for teens ages 15 to 19 is at
its highest point in 20 years, and that suicide is now the
second-leading cause of death for that age group, Education Week
reports.
The report, based on statistics from the Centers for Disease Control’s
Underlying Cause of Death database, reveals the increase has mainly
occurred between 2007 and 2017, reaching a rate of 11.8 suicides per
100,000 in 2017, with males more than three times more likely than
females to commit suicide.
The rise in the suicide rate is attributed to increased use of social
media, anxiety and depression, though the report suggests more research
is needed.
Dive Insight:
Though student suicides rarely happen at school, teen suicides are
often related to events occurring there or with schoolmates. According
to an article published in Psychology Today, student suicide rates
increase during the school year.
Cyberbullying via social media is among the main causes of suicide
because negative comments can now spread so widely and thoughtlessly,
and increased access to cell phones makes the problem worse. The stress
and anxiety of schoolwork and testingcan also contribute to the
problem. Stress and depression aren't limited to secondary school
students, either — they can affect elementary students, as well.
Once a student suicide or a tragedy such as a school shootingoccurs,
the entire student body is impacted. Suicides can occur in clusters,
making it more important that schools are prepared to deal with these
events by providing mental health support and using toolkits designed
to help students deal with these issues. As recent school tragedies
suggest, mental health support can be a school safety issue, as well.
Other factors such as family problems, substance abuse issues, and
depression can also affect teen suicide rates. But schools are
well-positioned to provide support for these concerns if they have the
counselors available. While a 250-to-1 ratio is recommended to provide
adequate support, the caseload is often much higher in many states,
with Arizona peaking at 905-to-1 — and funds aren't always available to
help lower the numbers.
Training teachers to identify potential problems can provide additional
support. Principals have a number of options, also including community
partnerships, to help students gain access to the mental health
resources they need, and making sure students know how to find them is
often the biggest part of the battle.
Other broader preventative strategies include incorporating social
emotional learning and specific programs such as Sources of Strength
that allow schools to deal more openly with topics like depression and
thoughts of suicide. Strengthening peer relationships and student
relationships with staff members is another pro-active measure. While
some states are stepping up to strengthen suicide prevention programs
in schools, it's important that schools create policies and look for
strategies that can be the most effective for their situations.
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