1 in 4 young people are reporting Suicidal thoughts

Almost every suicidal crisis has at its center a strong ambivalence. Most people can be helped in getting through their moment of crisis if they have someone who will spend time with them, listen, take them seriously and help them talk about their thoughts and feelings. What most suicidal people want is not to be dead but some way to get through the terrible pain they are experiencing and someone they can turn to during those terrible moments of fear and desperation.

Having someone to talk to can make a big difference. However, you may need to be persistent before they are willing to talk. Talking about suicide or suicidal thoughts will not push someone to kill themselves. It is also not true that people who talk about killing themselves will not actually try it. Take any expressed intention of suicide very seriously.

While you may not be able to solve these problems for a friend or classmate, you may be able to help the person find someone who can help. Suicidal ideation is up among young people, with as many as one in four people ages 18 through 24 having seriously considered suicide. In the early days of the covid pandemic, many people came together to help each other, connecting over socially distant dinners and reaching out for video calls with friends they had not talked to in months.

Psychological data taken during the covid pandemic showed mental health is languishing.

In the general United States population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 11% of adults had seriously considered suicide. Among those identifying as Black or Hispanic, the numbers were worse. 19% of Hispanics reported suicidal ideation and 15% of Blacks reported suicidal thoughts. The results reflect a nation increasingly on edge.

People can not disconnect from this. Add on the pressures of the economy, the increased scrutiny on racial injustice, and the looming specter of the presidential election, and it is hard for many to feel like things might turn out okay. The emotional burden is falling more heavily on those who reported having been treated recently for mental, emotional, or suicidal issues.

In particular, the stress is disproportionately falling on the young. Young people are struggling and having a tough time. On an individual level, the main pillars of psychological health include eating healthy, staying active, getting enough sleep, and maintaining social connections. Oftentimes when we are in stress, it is hard to come up with a game plan.

Friends and family play that role. But figuring out healthy ways to socialize virtually can require being intentional. Passive thumbing through social media or “doom scrolling” does not constitute meaningful or supportive social interaction. If you are on social media it is better to try to directly engage with or respond to others. In particular, if someone you know or love stops engaging, that can be a sign that it is time to reach out. You can encourage them to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor.

The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention recommends that those suicidal needing emotional support should call the Disaster Distress Helpline or text TalkWithUs.

And if you are experiencing a suicidal crisis, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or text the Crisis Text Line to get help. Even if you are not in crisis, it is crucial to find ways to maintain bonds with others and do what we can to support each other before someone enters into a crisis mode. As a community, we need to collectively re-amp up.