Supporting Youth Mental Health

Suicide rates for youth have been rising for years. More than 31% of high school students have experienced a persistent feeling of sadness or hopelessness, and over 17% have seriously considered attempting suicide. 
 
This may be due to the tremendous stress they face in school, peer pressure or bullying. Additionally, today’s youth spend a significant amount of time looking at screens, using electronic devices to play games or peruse social media, which is also a factor of the increased suicide rate. The extra time these factors take up can limit a young person’s time to connect with friends, get outside and exercise — which are all essential to maintaining mental health. 

In the past, young people were often told to simply shrug off school- and peer-related concerns. But given the rising suicide rates, expecting today’s kids to simply “toughen up” is not an effective approach to counteract the pressures they face. 
 
As students begin a new school year, parents, schools and communities should keep a watchful eye on young people’s mental health — looking for indicators of increased stress, feelings of helplessness or any other warning signs of suicidal thoughts. 
 

Creating Safety Zones To Support Youth Mental Health

To support youth mental health and reduce suicides, we need to create safety zones: supportive spaces where they feel comfortable sharing their concerns. At home, young people need to feel that they’re not judged for what they’re going through. They also need to know that professional help is available when they need it.
 
Each of us can contribute to that mental health safety zone in our own community. We can learn the warning signs associated with youth suicide, as well as what we can do to help someone in crisis. Some warning signs might be obvious. For example, when a child says they’d be better off dead or starts to give away their belongings. Other signs that are less clear might include sudden changes in their behavior or academic performance, or a preoccupation with death.
 
It's also important that we provide programs, opportunities and activities that engage and support youth mental health. One example is a high school in North Carolina that operates a youth mental health support group. The faculty-supported club provides a supportive environment for students to share their thoughts and feelings. It was started by a student who attempted suicide, and afterward wanted to help her fellow students and help reduce the stigma of youth suicide. 
 
We can all make ourselves more aware of what to watch for and how to respond in a supportive way when young people reach out for help. By doing so, we can not only eliminate the taboos around talking about suicide, we can help reduce the prevalence of youth suicide in our communities. 
 
Knowing that they have somewhere to turn can make all the difference for a young person as they cope with today’s unique pressures. Even more, it can help them build a strong foundation for mental health as they transition into adulthood and throughout their lives.   
 

Resources For Help

If you or a loved one are facing a mental health emergency, or if you know that someone is suicidal, call one of the help lines listed below, dial 911, or go the emergency room.

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free andconfidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources. Call any time of day or night, 800-273-TALK (8255) or chat online at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/.

• The Trevor Project provides a supportive, judgment-free community specifically for LGBTQ teens. It offers crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for people under age 25.

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides helpful insights and resources to support individuals with mental illness. It has local chapters throughout the nation. 

 
As an experienced community engagement specialist for Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, John Giampaolo has dedicated much of his career to improving suicide prevention awareness. In North Carolina, he helped organize the Stanly County Suicide Prevention Task Force to unite the community and raise awareness. Giampaolo’s strong community and social services background helps him work with a wide variety of stakeholders to reduce stigma and open access to mental health resources. He is also skilled at crisis intervention and case management. Giampaolo received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida International University.

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