mental illness youth suicide advocacy

Click Here: Mental Illness in Youth

Age 12 greeted me with prayers to God to take my life before I took my own. When I first brought my very legitimate concerns to an adult, he smiled uneasily and went back to bouncing the basketball ever in his hands: “Don’t worry. It’s not that serious. You will just get over it.” Unfortunately, this can be the response of many people when they are smashed in the face with the life-or-death pleas of a peer or impressionable child. Spreading knowledge, encouraging young people to get help, and eliminating stigma is imperative. I am grateful that I have had different friends, quite literally, save my life during my end-of-days… Let’s #EndtheStigma be #StigmaFree, move toward #SuicidePrevention, and #LiveLaughLove.

Some Facts:

Approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experience a severe mental disorder at some point during their life. For children aged 8–15, the estimate is 13% *1

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death of teenagers…

11% – mood disorder

10% – conduct or behavior disorder

8% – anxiety disorder

70% of youth in juvenile justice systems have at least one mental health condition and at least 20% live with a serious mental illness. *2

Half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14; three-quarters by age 24. Despite effective treatment, there are long delays—sometimes decades—between the first appearance of symptoms and when people get help. *3

Over one-third (37%) of students with a mental health condition age 14­–21 and older who are served by special education drop out—the highest dropout rate of any disability group. *4

More than 90% of children who die by suicide have a mental health condition. *5

Great Source Infographic: http://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Infographics/Children-MH-Facts-NAMI.pdf

 

From http://www.nami.org — Other Contributing Sources:

*1 — Any Disorder Among Children. (n.d.) Retrieved January 16, 2015, from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/any-disorder-among-children.shtml 

*2 — National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice. (2007). Blueprint for Change: A Comprehensive Model for the Identification and Treatment of Youth with Mental Health Needs in Contact with the Juvenile Justice System. Delmar, N.Y: Skowyra, K.R. & Cocozza, J.J. Retrieved January 16, 2015, from http://www.ncmhjj.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2007_Blueprint-for-Change-Full-Report.pdf

*3 — Kessler, R.C., et al. (2005). Prevalence, Severity, and Comorbidity of 12-Month DSM-IV Disorders in the National Comorbitity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 593–602. Retrieved January 16, 2015, from http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=208671

*4 — U.S. Department of Education. (2014). 35th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2013. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved January 16, 2015, from http://www2.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/2013/parts-b-c/35th-idea-arc.pdf

*5 — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1999). Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved January 16, 2015, from http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/ps/access/NNBBJC.pdf

 

Leave a comment

Lightbreak the Fathoms

Embrace the opportunity to receive Exclusive Content and Updates with The Fathoms Newsletter. Capture the chance for item giveaways, character stories, digital art, and the meandering musings of a storm-thwarting author.
Email address
First Name
Angelic Creations