Youth Suicides

Recently, suicide has gained media attention due to celebrity deaths. Despite the focus of news stories on Hollywood, suicide is not only an issue for the rich and famous. Instead, it is a public health issue that reaches across all genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic levels.

According to the 2017 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Leading Causes of Death Reports, suicide is: 

• The 10th leading cause of death
• The cause of death for ~ 45,000 people
• Completed by 54% of people who did not have a mental health illness
• Increasing its rate in every state, including Georgia 
• The 2nd leading cause of death for youth 10-14 years old

Given the disproportional impact of suicide deaths on youth, there is a clear need to address the issue in this population. The #AskMe Campaign is the school and evidence-based solution Georgia needs. 

 

 

 

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). 10 leading causes of death by age group, United States-2017 [PDF file]. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/pdf/leading_causes_of_death_by_age_group_2017-508.pdf