Prevention and Recovery: Suicide

Suicide is one of the leading causes of preventable death in our nation today.  We lose an average of approximately 125 young people each week to this tragedy.  The Jason Foundation is a non-profit organization that believes that education is the key to prevention. They believe that our nation should be familiar with the warning signs associated with suicide, suicide facts and statistics, and how to find help for at-risk youth. The Jason Flatt Act has been passed in 21 states.  t requires teachers and certain school personnel to complete 2 hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention training.  The Jason Foundation also feels that it’s imperative that athletic department personnel, especially coaches and athletic trainers, notice team members’ behavioral changes and emotional struggles.  These changes could be warning signs of suicidal ideation and they could provide an opportunity to save a life.  According to the CDC's WISQARS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System) for 2023, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for middle and high school age youth (ages 12-18) and for college age youth (ages 18-22).  Overall, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for our youth ages 10-24.  More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, COMBINED.  Each day in our nation, there are an average of over 3,703 attempts by young people in grades 9-12.  4 out of 5 individuals considering suicide give some sign of their intentions, either verbally or behaviorally.  Here's the link to the Jason Foundation. It contains lots of valuable information including warning signs and risk factors.  Together, we can save lives!