There’s some good news in recent mental health data to report. Suicidal Ideation behaviors among teens have declined, but experts warn that there is still a lot of work to do.
A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that suicidal thoughts among U.S. teens have been on the decline recently. The study surveyed 70,000 preteens and teens aged 12 and older. The data concluded that the percentage of 12-to-17-year-olds experiencing suicidal thoughts dropped from nearly 13% in 2021 to 10% in 2024. The number of documented suicide attempts also decreased, falling from 3.6% to 2.7%.
Since suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens, with gun violence first, experts see this change as a victorious step forward in this important mental health fight. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, senior vice president of research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, told NPR, in a recent interview, that the findings are “very promising.”
Despite the encouraging data, the report misses some important details by not providing a breakdown by race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. Yet, the Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed and assures that this information will be included in a future update.
This additional context is essential to understanding the full picture because suicide impacts different groups in varying ways. For instance, LGBTQ+ youth are at a higher risk than their cisgender peers, and LGBTQ+ teens of color often face even more significant challenges.
The SAMHSA study also noted that with access to treatment, for many is a major problem. While 60% of teens who had a recent episode of depression received care, that still leaves a large number without support. Broader data from the National Institute of Mental Health shows an even lower average, only about 40% of adolescents with depression get the treatment that they need.
Many factors contribute to problem, including stigma, shame, gaps in insurance coverage, and financial difficulties. Victor Fornari, M.D., a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Zucker Hillside Hospital, previously told Parents.com in an interview that, “Stigma and shame have long interfered with receiving adequate behavioral health care. Mental health is part of overall health. There is no health without mental health.”
Although rates are on the decline, parents and caregivers should still be vigilant for warning signs that their teen may be in trouble. Per Parents.com, here are a few of the recommended signs that experts recommend parents and caregivers on the lookout for:
- Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Loss of interest in activities they previously enjoyed
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Substance use
- Heightened interest or obsession with death and dying
- Giving away or destroying possessions
- Extreme mood swings
The new report indeed does offer hope; however, it also it also makes it clear that suicide prevention and access to care continue to remain urgent issues, especially for the groups most at risk.
