Adobe Stock
Cook Children’s Medical Center has launched a campaign to raise awareness of suicide among children. With suicide on a rise in recent years, 2020 saw adolescent numbers double, and while the pandemic has had an effect, there are other factors that have led to this increase.
Last year at Cook Children's, the leading cause of traumatic death — that is, deaths that resulted from a sudden violent act, such as a car crash or drowning — was suicide. In 2020, Cook Children’s saw 294 children who attempted to end their lives. In 2021, that number is already over 118, with the average age being 14.
The JOY Campaign is an effort from Cook Children’s to spread awareness and prevent child suicide. The hospital publishes a series on its Checkup Newsroom, covering the effects of the pandemic, medication, and more on child suicide rates.
“I feel like we need to do something to really get our parents aware and make the community aware,” Cook Children’s psychiatrist Dr. Kia Carter says. “We worked as a group with many to come up with different topics to present to our families about mental health, about the issues playing a role in mental health, including the pandemic, and other challenges that people have and how families can support their kids.”
Social media and bullying are two of the biggest challenges that may impact children’s mental health. Social media exposes children to topics and issues that they would otherwise not have encountered. The age of electronics has seen bullying move from something that happens at school to something that takes place in a child’s bedroom.
Minority children make up 50% of the child suicide attempts. LGBTQ kids make up roughly 30%. The feelings of fear and not being understood or accepted can cause children to become isolated and withdrawn, which can lead to depression.
Carter says that it is important for parents to speak to children about their feelings.
“It is something that parents should be talking to their kids that are late elementary and above about because usually it's something in a lot of households that is stigmatized or that's not comfortable or taboo to talk about,” Carter says. “And unfortunately, kids are hearing it everywhere else, so having those conversations ... is important.”
Noting changes in behavior, kids not enjoying the same things they once had, or seeing them spending more time alone or in their room could be clues that a child may need help.
“Those are how the little clues that something maybe is a little different, and it could be nothing, but sometimes you want to make sure and just check in with your kid,” Carter says. “It's just looking for that change or different behavior for your child because every child is not the same — so, knowing what's normal for your child and then looking for any shifts in what's normal.”
Cook Children’s website for the JOY Campaign contains more information and resources for help.
“Suicide is a preventable illness,” Carter says. “It's something that could be prevented and intervened if found early. So, just making sure that parents are aware to get the support, don't be afraid to ask for help and rely on your pediatricians or your school counselors and school social workers, because those people should be able to point you in the right direction.”
