September is Suicide Prevention Month — a time not just to raise awareness, but to raise each other. In the US, every 13 minutes, someone dies by suicide. Every 13 minutes, a life ends, and countless others are changed forever.
Suicide is a leading cause of death amongst young people in the United States. The statistics show that every 15 people out of 100,000 chose to take their lives in the year of 2024. This number has increased by 9% since 2020 and is progressively growing every year. This article will cover reasons why specifically adolescents aged 13-29 are more likely to be exposed to self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and suicide itself. Additionally, covering how we as a community of young adults can support and uplift one another.
In 2022, over half (54.7%) of adults with a mental illness did not receive the proper treatment they needed, totaling over 28 million individuals, largely due to the dismissive attitude towards it. The lack of attention to mental health in society often comes from the social stigma surrounding it. Social stigma not only prevents individuals from seeking help but also leads to shame, isolation, and hopelessness.
One of the most alarming consequences of this silence is seen in men. Due to harmful gender norms set by society that discourage emotional vulnerability, many men are less likely to seek help for mental health struggles. The same applies to adolescents who might get brutally judged, labeled as “weak” by their peers for expressing emotions or admitting they’re struggling and going through a hard time. Therefore, the suicide rate among men and adolescents is significantly higher- men are 3.8times more likely to take their lives than women, while for teens and young adults (10-34), it is the second leading cause of death, according to recent data.
The 3 R’s of prevention are: Reconginze, Respond, Refer. By knowing these seemingly simple words, you can potentially provide your peer, neighbor, or friend with the support they truly need.
The first R stands for Recognize– being able to detect the warning signs. It usually varies from person to person, but includes behavior such as:
- Withdrawal from friends or activities
- Sudden mood swings throughout the day
- Talking about feeling hopeless or like a burden
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns (Insomnia, eating disorder)
- Self-harm behaviors
Second R is for Respond– take action! It’s important to react with sympathy and care. Listen without judgement, they should be able to feel that you ought to take their situation seriously & confidentially. A simple statement such as “I’m here for you” or “You know that you don’t have to go through this all by yourself, I’m there for you” can be incredibly encouraging to those to whom this might apply.
The final step is Referring– the person to someone who can provide professional help. It can be a school counselor, a trusted adult, an external mental health professional, or, in a severe case, even a crisis hotline like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
It’s okay to admit you’re not an expert! What matters is that you don’t stay silent and that you help connect the person to someone who can actually guide them through their pain safely.
Raising awareness of this difficult topic like this saves millions of lives daily. Raising awareness is a proactive effort to take intentional steps to recognize, understand, and respond to those who may be struggling. You never know the silent battle a person is going through; therefore, being an encouragement- a hope of light for another might mean a life for them.
National Center for Health Statistics. Suicide Rates in the U.S. NCHS, https://nchstats.com/suicide-rates-us/.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Suicide Statistics.” AFSP, 2025 (retrieved April 1, 2025), https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics/.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide Data and Statistics. CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html.
World Health Organization. “Suicide.” World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide.
USAFacts. “How Many People Die by Suicide — United States.” USAFacts, https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-people-die-by-suicide/country/united-states/.
National Institute of Mental Health. Suicide Statistics. NIMH, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.
Minnesota Department of Health. 2024 Suicide Data Brief. MDH, 2024, https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/suicide/documents/2024suicidedatabrief.pdf.
