Author

Pader Moua, MPHPolicy Analyst501-526-2244PMoua@achi.net

#Suicidalthoughts and poor #mentalhealth are at high levels among #female U.S. #highschoolstudents, a new report by the #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention finds.

In 2021, 22% of all U.S. #highschoolstudents seriously considered attempting #suicide, up from 16% in 2011, according to the #Youth Risk #Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report. Among #female #students, nearly one in three, or 30%, seriously considered attempting #suicide, an increase from 19% in 2011. The survey also found that #female #students were more likely to make a #suicide plan, attempt #suicide, or be injured in a #suicideattempt compared to their #male peers.

An alarmingly high rate of U.S. #students, 42%, reported they were unable to do their usual activities due to almost daily feelings of sadness or #hopelessness for at least two weeks in 2021. This is up from 28% of #students in 2011. The rate is even higher for #female #students: nearly 60% (up from 36% in 2011), compared to 29% for #male #students.

These survey-based findings are released every two years. The findings for 2021 are the first to capture the disruptions and challenges faced by #highschool #students since the #COVID-19 #pandemic began.

State-specific data for 2021 are not yet available, but Arkansas-specific data from surveys in recent years indicate disproportionately higher rates of #suicidalthoughts and poor #mentalhealth among #female #highschoolstudents compared to #male #students. The percentage of #female #students in Arkansas who seriously considered attempting #suicide rose from 18% in 2011 to 25% in 2019, while among #male #students the percentage increased from 11% in 2011 to 14% in 2019. Among all #highschoolstudents in Arkansas, 20% considered a #suicideattempt in 2019, up from 14% in 2011. In 2019, #female #highschoolstudents in Arkansas were also more likely than their #male peers to make a #suicide plan and attempt #suicide.

Forty-seven percent of #female #students in Arkansas reported feeling sad or hopeless in 2019 (up from 36% in 2011), compared to 25% of #male #students (up from 21% in 2011). Among all Arkansas #highschoolstudents, 36% reported feeling sad or hopeless in 2019, up from 28% in 2011.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/03/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-survey-suicidalthoughts-high-among-us-teen-girls/