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Prevention Action Alliance
Our
Thoughts... Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Last week, Senior Airman Sean
Oziegbe of the Ohio National Guard shared his experiences with mental
health. This week, we’re talking about youth suicide, a topic of
critical importance. As a reminder, if you or someone you know is in a
crisis and needs support, you can call the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth and young
adults. Completed suicides are tragic and the most visible challenge
associated with teen mental health. For every completed suicide, there
can be dozens of attempts.
Recently, the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry published research by the National Institute of Mental
Health and researchers across the country that linked Netflix’s 13
Reasons Why drama to a spike in youth suicides. Researchers were unable
to prove a causal link, in part because the research was
quasi-experimental. However, all have been clearly troubled, and mental
health experts have been warning about 13 Reasons Why before the show
even came out.
Netflix’s response was tepid at best.
It pointed out that the show is for adults, not youth, and said,
“Entertainment has always been the ultimate connector and we hope that
13 Reasons Why can serve as a catalyst for conversation.” It also said
it worked with mental health experts to help the show cover suicide
well. However, one of those experts, Dan Reidenberg, warned Netflix
against proceeding with the show. Since the show aired, countless
mental health experts have come out to warn parents about the show, yet
Netflix continues to air it.
Netflix may say that the show is for adults, but that hasn’t stopped 10
to 17-year-olds from binge-watching the show, which portrays suicide
graphically as well as rape and substance use.
As suicide rates increase, so too do the rates of teenage girls
poisoning themselves. The rate of suicide attempts by poisoning rose
from almost 40,000 attempts in the year 2000 to almost 80,000 in 2018.
Some of those poisoning attempts result in death, others present
life-threatening symptoms, and still others in non-life-threatening
symptoms that required treatment.
While youth suicide is a complicated issue with a myriad of factors and
no easy solutions, here are five things you can do right now:
Ensure that any firearms or prescription drugs or other means of
suicide are locked up and unavailable to any young people in your home.
Take advantage of teachable moments—Season 3 of 13 Reasons Why will
presumably be released in the second half of this year. That’s an
opportunity to talk about youth suicide with your family, your
community, and your legislators.
Talk to your teen about their mental health in a non-judgmental way.
Ask questions, seek to understand, and tailor the conversation to their
age.
Remember—talking about suicide will not put the idea of it into
someone’s head. It shows that you care about their health and wellbeing
and can relieve anxiety.
Learn the facts about youth suicide, including the warning signs.
Threats of self-harm, seeking a means to kill oneself, dramatic mood
changes, increased alcohol or drug use, and hopelessness are all
warning signs of suicide.
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