Suicide prevention month stemmed from the first national suicide prevention week in 1975. It was later recognized as a full month in September 2008, to further increase awareness around suicide and mental health. Recognition for the national awareness campaign helps us to better understand the quiet struggles our peers go through and their silent cries for help.
Unfortunately, students and young children alike, are susceptible to the grasp of depression. Some of this comes from family situations out of their control, but some of it comes from bullying and negativity at school. Most kids have a tendency to keep harassment to themselves rather than telling an adult to get it to stop. In doing this, they isolate themselves from potential support and help, locking them between a rock and a hard place. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “One in five high school students seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023″. This staggering statistic corresponds with a growing rate of youth suicide in the United States which is one of the leading causes of death in 
adolescents and young adults. Suicide deaths among 10- to 24-year-olds increased by 62% from 2007 to 2021. Research released this summer found that suicide is rising dramatically in preteens as young as 8 years old as well, with an 8.2% annual increase from 2008 to 2022 (Youth Suicide Is on the Rise: Yale Aims to Save Lives). This shows the severe increase in young people with depression and the results of self harm because of this depression.
In understanding depression and suicide without bias or judgement, we become better at helping others with what they may potentially be going through. It also helps the individual that’s struggling feel better supported and understood when they have someone to speak to that doesn’t have any preconceived notions about their state of mind, or any judgement about their thoughts and feelings.
There are three ways to prevent suicide: connection, collaboration, and choice. You need to establish a supportive and understanding relationship with the person at risk, in other words connect with them. Then you should collaborate with the person and get them to work with family members, friends, or healthcare professionals to provide proper help and care. Finally, try and help the individual choose and continue to choose life.
Your help can make a difference. Even the smallest act of kindness can drastically change someone’s day or how they feel. Life can be extremely hard and stressful. Especially for teenagers in today’s day and age. Everyone telling them what to do, how to look, how to act, and what to be. But that doesn’t mean cutting life short is the way. In the end, what matters most is what makes a person happies and what makes them feel the best in their skin. Life is worth living. You just have to see it to believe it.
