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Factors in Ohio youth suicides
By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
The following stories can be found on the Nationwide Children’s
Behavioral Health (Ohio) website in the On Our Sleeves program section
that helps children living with mental illness.
www.nationwidechildrens.org.
“Just three short years ago, our then 14-year-old daughter was
hospitalized with symptoms of severe depression and anxiety, following
what we later learned were a series of suicide attempts. Her illness
was compounded by negative influences from the internet, sought out in
an effort to dispel the darkness, which had led to confusion, paranoia,
violent outbursts, and even psychosis. It is no exaggeration to say
that Nationwide Children's Hospital, its doctors and amazing staff
saved her life, through months of intensive inpatient treatment, and
referral for intensive outpatient care. While Helen still lives with
some symptoms of her illness, she has gained incredible insight and
empathy, which she is now giving back through work in eldercare. I
thank God every day for this bright, loving child who we had so nearly
lost, both physically and emotionally, and for the amazing people at
Nationwide Children’s who helped her find her way back from a very dark
place.”
“On Aug. 8, 2012, in the early morning, Drey texted his mother: Hey, I
love you. Denise thought it was odd, but not too concerning he would
text her that message in the middle of the night. She texted him back,
telling him she loved him, and got ready for work. Two months earlier,
Drey had graduated from Thomas Worthington High School, where he had
been an avid soccer player and earned a varsity letter. He had a job at
a car lot and was preparing to start college, a transition he was
insecure about. In the weeks before he was to start college, Drey had
been angry and depressed, but Denise thought perhaps that was just
typical angst for a 19-year-old. Drey’s father called Denise in the
morning on Aug. 8, urging her to come to the house. Immediately. He
wouldn’t say what happened. Nor would the many teenagers gathered in
front of the house when she arrived and looked at each of their faces,
hoping to see her son’s: Where’s Drey? Where’s Drey? And where was the
ambulance? Denise asked the police officer. Why hadn’t they dispatched
an ambulance? “Ma’am,’’ the officer said, “he’s already passed.’’ About
two and a half years before he died, Drey seemed depressed and told his
mother he wanted to kill himself. But after four months of counseling,
his mood improved so much that therapy seemed no longer necessary.
Then, during his senior year of high school, he started drinking. His
mother had told him not to and had hoped that perhaps it was a fleeting
phase. Drey drank the morning he took his life – after his dad left for
work.”
A 2016 report from the Ohio Department of Health Violence and Injury
Prevention Program and the Ohio Violent Death Reporting System provided
factors for youth deaths by suicide (www.oacp.org). From 2012 to 2014,
an average of 187 Ohio youths died by suicide each year. In 86 percent
of youth suicide cases, investigators were able to determine the
circumstances surrounding these deaths.
In reference to mental/behavioral health, 44 percent had a known mental
health diagnosis, 27 percent were currently in treatment for mental
illness, and 25 percent had a depressed mood. In reference to substance
abuse, 5 percent were alcohol dependent and 19 percent had another
substance use problem. In reference to their current problems, 38
percent had an intimate partner problem, 21 percent had experienced a
crisis in the past two weeks, and less common problems included school,
financial, and criminal.
Methods of suicide. Overall, 48 percent of youth suicides were by
hanging or strangulation and 40 percent used firearms. Among males, 46
percent died by firearms and 44 percent by hanging or strangulation,
whereas only 27 percent of females died by firearms and 57 percent by
hanging or strangulation. Youth suicides by firearm are more common in
Appalachian counties compared to other types of Ohio counties.
According to a 2019 report in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers at
Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and the Central Ohio
Poison Center found medication overdose suicide attempts have more than
doubled since 2000, and more than tripled for girls.
Ohio Resources
Ohio Violent Death Reporting System at www.healthy.ohio.gov.
Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation at www.ohiospf.org.
Ohio’s Suicide Prevention Plan at www.mha.ohio.gov/suicideprevention.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s mission is to provide
immediate assistance to individuals in suicidal crisis by connecting
them to the nearest available suicide prevention and mental health
service provider through a toll-free telephone number: 1-800-273-TALK
(8255). It is the only national suicide prevention and intervention
telephone resource funded by the Federal Government.
Suicide prevention and intervention for youth must be an ongoing
mission in each of Ohio’s 88 counties, each community, each health
department, each hospital emergency department, each school district,
each youth organization, each pediatrician’s office, each place of
worship, and each home.
Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, educator, and
therapist. She lives in Ohio. Contact her at
melissamcolumnist@gmail.com.
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