CLEVELAND, Ohio — Between 2007 and 2018, there was a 56 percent increase in the number of suicides among young people in Ohio, ages 10 to 24. 

  • The leading cause of death in youth, ages 10-14, is suicide
  • Medical professionals at the Ohio Department of Health say it's important to know the signs of depression and to reach out to people who you think may be at risk
  • One of the biggest warning signs is a major change in mood or behavior

But, why? 

“I think it's important for us to recognize that suicide is a very complex public health problem, that there are multiple, multiple factors that enter into the reason that numbers go up. And there are multiple reasons for any one individual attempting suicide,” said Mark Hurst, M.D., medical director, Ohio Department of Health.

Jack Binder, whose organization works closely with schools and teens, thinks social media plays a large role.

“I think this generation doesn't get enough credit for how strong they are, how courageous, how willing they are to talk about topics like this,” said Binder, CEO, LifeAct.

“There is a misperception that asking someone about suicide will make them more likely to attempt suicide. Exactly the opposite is true. If we reach out to someone and ask them how they're doing, ask them if they're having concerns about harming themselves, or things like that, they often feel unburdened by it and they don't feel alone anymore,” said Hurst.

Both Binder and Hurst say it's important to know what the warning signs are, which may include:

  • A major change in mood or behavior
  • Poor grades in school or other bad performance in extra-curricular activities
  • High-risk behaviors, including use of alcohol or other substances
  • Problems with concentration, and changes in energy level, appetite or sleep schedule
  • Expressing feelings of hopeless or not wanting to live anymore
  • Hurting themselves

“We empower the students. We try to make the students understand that adult in the front of room is here to help. We're not the early warning system, and we're not necessarily the solution, the teens are. We don't see their social media posts, we don't see them after school or their lockers we don't see them on weekends, we don't see them at night, their peers do,” said Binder.

If you or someone you know is at-risk, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, or text “4 hope” to 741-741.

LifeAct is based in Cleveland, but recently received state funding, so there are plans for its programs to be available across Ohio.