Mental Health
September is
National Suicide Prevention Month
with Sept 7-13 Identified as
National Suicide Prevention Week
Actions related to suicide continue to be a significant factor in the incidence of mortality and morbidity amongst all ages.
The CDC’s 2023 data identify suicide
as the 11th leading cause of U.S. deaths overall.
In 2021, the prevalence of child and adolescent mental health adversity necessitated the declaration of a national emergency by the AAP, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Children’s Hospital Association.
The AAP in collaboration with the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, and NIH experts regarding suicide, formulated the “Suicide: Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention.” The Blueprint identifies suicide as the second leading cause of death for those age 10-24, with 25% of youth mortality in US being death by suicide. The Blueprint serves as a definitive guide in the identification and prevention of youth death by suicide. The Virginia Chapter of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention identifies suicide as being the second leading cause of death for ages 10-34, and the fourth leading cause for ages 35-44.
Youth at particular risk of death by suicide include youth who identify as LGBTQ+, have disabilities particularly those with difficulty communicating their thoughts, live in rural areas, or bullied. Regarding youth of different races and cultures, American Indian and Alaskan Native have the highest rates, followed by White, Black, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino. From 2018-2022, a period correlating with the Covid Pandemic, Black youth age 10-24 had an increase percentage change rate that more than doubled the change rate of other races and cultures.
Addressing mental health difficulties in Black youth continues to be adversely affected by such issues being considered a weakness and not to be acknowledged by previous generations, as well as minimal availability of mental health providers, particularly minority providers.
The purpose of an AAP funded grant was to identify Suicide Ambassador(s) for each state, who in collaboration with representative(s) from that states AFSP, would formulate a suicide prevention education project for the community.
Addressing the need for further education of suicide prevention geared particularly towards Black youth, the Virginia cohort produced this video of a fictional scenario geared towards this culture.
Members of the Virginia Cohort for this AAP grant funded project:
Va. Chap of AAP : Percita L. Ellis, MD, FAAP
Principal Screenwriter
Jackie Cotton, MD, FAAP
Va. Chap of AFSP: Cassie Glenn, PhD & Joseph Cuismano, PharmD, BCPP