About this Session:
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults. Further, 8.9% of high school students attempted suicide in the past year with the highest percentage among females, black, and LGBTQ+ teens. Unlike disease impacting the body, there is no cure for suicide. Intervening early through training clinicians, teachers, family members, employees to spot signs and use proven intervention methods is paramount to our success in combating this growing illness. Although the statistics are most alarming in our younger populations, suicide affects all ages, genders and racial and ethnic groups. The emergence of the 988 crisis hotline, growth of nonprofits and community-based organizations focused on mental health and our government’s increased focus on prevention gives us hope for a brighter future. Hear from those working tirelessly to heal those suffering from acute mental illness.