SAMHSA | Suicide Prevention: Building Protective Factors to Keep Students Safe

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people between the ages of ten and twenty-four. Data from Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), shows that 3.3 million adolescents between the age of twelve and seventeen had serious thoughts of committing suicide, made a suicide plan, or attempted suicide in the past year. Although the data demonstrate persistent challenges, CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey report does show signs that adolescent mental health improved from 2021 to 2023.