By Molly Thamrong
with contributions by Aiden Bennett, Marriona Boland, Stephanie Lopez, Melanye Perez, Connor Triano, & Belle Wurmser
Suicide is becoming a more prevalent issue among teenagers around the world. It’s the 12th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2020, 45,979 Americans died by suicide. With these rising numbers, it is more important than ever to raise awareness for those struggling with thoughts of suicide. Before proceeding with anything further, here’s a friendly reminder to anyone and everyone reading this that you’re extremely loved and not alone in the long run.
September has been acknowledged as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month since 2008. The month is dedicated to those affected by suicide, to raise awareness of suicide, to understand mental health more, and to bring people together. In 1966, the Center for Studies of Suicide Prevention was established at the National Institute of Mental Health. In 1978, The National Institute of Mental Health created a task in Phoenix, Arizona, to discuss the status of suicide prevention in the US after a disturbingly high rate of youth suicide.
The New Jersey School Boards Association has created a program to promote suicide awareness during the month of September. NJSBA aims to provide direct service, professional learning, advocacy, and resources to school boards to enhance public education through public announcements. Recently they provided a call-out on the importance of raising awareness of depression and suicide, especially in teens. Results from the 2019 Youth Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System show that 18.8% of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide and unfortunately, 8.9% went through with it.
The odds of knowing someone who is dealing with depression or suicidal thoughts is 1 in 5. Common risk factors associated with suicide or depression include lack of a support network, feelings of social isolation, alcohol or drug misuse, family conflicts, relationship difficulties, or work or school problems.
There are resources available in Brick Memorial’s Guidance and School-Based offices that provide services for those struggling. Along with these local sources, there are hotlines available 24 hours a day at 988 or 1-800-273-8255. If you are not comfortable calling, there are messaging services available on those lines. In the case of an emergency please call 911.
