During the pandemic, a director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said young people were “in crisis" after a report revealed an increase in concerning behavior, including suicide attempts and suicidal ideation particularly among girls and marginalized youth. And, death by suicide increased for young people during the pandemic, prompting widespread concern for mental health among youth. But there's some good news: a new CDC report shows that the rates of suicide among young people have been falling — particularly among young girls.
The new CDC data found that in 2022, suicide rates for males declined for those ages 34 and younger and, among females, rates declined for those ages 24 and younger. The most significant decrease in rates of suicide among young women was found in those between the ages of 10 to 14, who experienced a 22% decline. For women between the ages of 25 and 34, rates did, however, increase by 7%. Young men also experienced the largest decrease in rates of suicide among males in the age group of 10-14, with rates decreasing by 13%. While people ages 10 to 34 saw an overall decline in suicide rates, the overall rates for all age groups did increase slightly, by 3%.
Kelechi Loynd, MD, a psychiatrist at Washington University in St. Louis, isn’t surprised by the decrease in suicide rates among young people. She suspects it may be influenced by the end of pandemic restrictions.
“Despite it being early, I can only suspect lifting the pandemic restrictions has helped prevent such isolating factors that contributed to this increase rate. As a result, the suicide rate may be less,” Dr. Loynd told Teen Vogue. Being separated from friends, activities, and resources that young people access in school and other community settings may have worsened mental health during the pandemic, which may be eased as young people get back to their normal routines.
“The negative impact the pandemic had on [youth] was devastating," Loynd said. "More young people struggled with mental health issues during this time, leading to more suicidal ideations, attempts, and [death]. Loneliness, isolation, and hopelessness were major factors that contributed to worse mental health during the pandemic.”
Dr. Loynd also said there is no health without mental health and taking care of our mental health is foundation to our overall well-being. “Suicide is a preventable cause of death,” she said.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, there is help available. You can call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, where a trained counselor can talk to you and connect you with further resources. You can also reach out to a trusted friend or adult if you're experiencing suicidal thoughts, or, if you're not in immediate danger, taking a walk or making a list of things you're excited for in the future might help redirect your thoughts. Find out more about what to do if you're experiencing suicidal thoughts here.
