by Vania Castillo

#Students in #school

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — The #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention is reporting a 31% increase in #suicideattempt emergency room visits among people ages 12 to 25 since the start of the #pandemic.

Dr. Sarah Martin, a #child #psychiatrist and professor at Texas Tech in El Paso, said that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“What the increase is in is not hospitalizations or suicides, but it’s actually people presenting to an emergency room for something that has to do with a suicidal thought or #suicideattempt or something related to that,” said Martin.

She explained that the data shows that people are actually getting the help they need.

“One thing I think may be happening is that people are paying attention to their thoughts, to their children’s thoughts, to their teenager's thoughts about their own #mentalhealth, about their children’s #mentalhealth,” said Martin.

#Teenage #girls between ages 12 and 17 have seen a dramatic increase in visits, according to the #CDC.

Suspected #suicideattempt visits to the emergency room were up over 50% in #girls compared to a 3% increase in #boys in the same age range since the start of the #pandemic.

Martin attributed this to the way #women and #men are socialized differently making it easier for #girls to ask for the help they need.

“What we’re probably seeing is a difference in help-seeking #behavior and not a difference in actual #mentalhealth,” said Martin.

While emergency room visits for #suicideattempt visits are up, Martin said #suicide rates have stayed level to pre-#pandemic times.

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“A lot of us were worried that #mentalhealth would kind of take a backseat once #COVID hit and actually it’s really been the opposite,” said Martin.

She said it’s still important to continue to keep an eye on #children as we help them navigate these unprecedented times.

“We don’t want to wait until a #kid is suicidal to help them. We want to help them when they’re first starting to have problems,” said Martin.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of #self-harm or #suicide, help is available. Call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 800-273-8255.

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