The Cause

The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide

The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide was started by two fathers who lost their teen children to suicide. After their deaths in 2005, the men were shocked to learn that suicide was the third leading cause of death for teens in the US: now, it is the second one. Suicide rates for the ages 10-24 have risen drastically in the last two years: In 2007 it was 6.8 per 100,000 and in 2017 it rose to 10.6 per 100,000 people.

The SPTS made it their mission to educate teachers and raise awareness for suicide. In 2006 they worked to get a legislation passed in New Jersey that required all educators to complete at least 2 hours of instruction in suicide prevention. The legislation was passed making New Jersey the first state in the country to require such training.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a worldwide mental health upheaval. In 2019, Suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death for teens in the United States. Results from the 2019 Youth Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System show that in the past year 18.8% of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide and 8.9% attempted suicide. CDC research indicates that 31 percent of Americans have reported anxiety and depression during the pandemic, and 11 percent have considered suicide.

Since the COVID - 19 pandemic began, it’s become harder and harder for kids to maintain/form connections with friends and teachers. Remote school and decreased social interaction has been really hard on kids and teenagers. Research shows that kids and teens depend on their friendships to maintain a sense of self-worth and to manage anxiety and depression. School and homework feel optional now that kids aren’t learning and taking tests in a classroom setting. With winter beginning, the days are getting shorter, the weather is getting worse, and the numbers are going up. The summer provided hope but soon it’s going to be tough to get out of the house or see any friends at all. It’s mentally damaging and makes it hard to stay focused and motivated when you live the same day over and over again with no real end in sight. In a time like this, it’s especially important to check in with your friends, family, and yourself and start conversations about mental health.