Teen Suicide in Utah
by LAUNI DAHL
Suicide attempts and deaths are, unfortunately, on the rise in Utah. Before we can go about fixing a problem, we must first arm ourselves with the facts:
Teen Suicide—Utah Statistics:
Most studies on suicide in Utah identify “youth” as 10-17 years old.
According to Utah Suicide Prevention, Utah is currently the fifth highest state in the nation for teen deaths by suicide.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens in Utah.
According to the Utah Department of Health, Utah teens make up 22.7% of all suicide attempts.
Firearms are the most common method of youth suicide in Utah. Poisoning is the most common method of suicide attempts.
Why Suicide?
There are many possible reasons that a youth may consider suicide, and each individual’s story is unique to their experience. However, research from Johns Hopkins Medicine shows that some of the most common reasons for youth suicide include the following:
Major family changes such as divorce or relocating to a new town
Changes in friendships and/or other losses
Struggling in school—academically or socially
With unreasonably high suicide rates in the Intermountain West, some research claims that access to guns and higher altitudes in these areas can be contributing factors.
What are Utah Schools Doing to Address the Problem?
Utah’s Department of Human Services claims that “nearly 1 in 5 of Utah's high school seniors reported they'd seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. Most of those had planned how they would do it.”
To address this problem, schools around Utah are investing in more mental health support. This includes hiring more counselors and social workers.
Students are getting involved, too. With the surge in teen suicide, many students are starting student groups to encourage inclusion, anti-bullying, and providing a positive support network of peers.
How Can We Help?
Part of addressing the epidemic in teen suicide (and suicide in general) is knowing how to responsibly report. Studies have shown that some teens are at an increased risk of suicide after a friend, family member, community member, or even celebrity has died by suicide.
Mark Sinyor, M.D., explains that “Although suicide can be contagious, resilience can also be contagious. And when we look at media reports that talk about people who thought about suicide but instead got help and got better...the number of deaths that happen in a specific area go down.” In other words, studies have shown that suicide rates in an area can increase after a suicide in the community. We have seen the unfortunate reality of these studies in Utah’s schools. By publicizing more news stories about people who have struggled with suicidal ideation and succceeded in reaching out for help, we can normalize this proactive process and reach more teens who are struggling.
Resources:
Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255. Counselors are available around the clock, day and night.
The Trevor Project: Crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people, ages 13-24.Call: 1-866-488-7386 Text: 1-202-304-1200
Online Chat: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline also provides access to an online chat for those who may not be comfortable speaking over the phone. You can find access to the chat here.
Safe UT App: This app is a crisis text and tip line. According to their website, they provide “real-time crisis intervention to youth through texting and a confidential tip program – right from your smartphone.”
Trans Lifeline: A hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people. Call: 1-877-565-8860