County official: ‘Our youths are struggling’
Topeka Capital JournalOct 22, 2019
Hundreds of young people have received suicide-related medical treatment in recent years in
Sixteen residents ages 10
to 24 died of suicide in 2017-2018 in
Suicide rates for
“Our youths are struggling,” she said.
Cook said he would like to know whether specific geographic areas or social-economic groups are struggling more than others so special effort can be put toward reaching those demographics.
Le said she would like to know that too, but the data to which she has access is “very limited.”
Le’s newsletter article said the health department gathered information about suicides among people ages 10 to 24 in
Those records show that between 2008 and 2017, 43 people in that age group died of suicide in
“For every suicide death, there is an even greater number of suicide-related emergency room visits,” she added. “The (
The department found at least 803 such visits in 2017-2018, with 65 percent made by females and 35 percent by males, Le wrote.
Sixty-five percent of those visits were made by youths ages 10 to 19, and 35 percent by young people ages 20 to 24, she added.
The Family Service and
She added: “The most recent youth-led project was a marketing campaign of the 7 Cups smartphone app within their schools. 7 Cups is a free online emotional support service to help teens ages 13-18 work through issues such as anxiety, depression, break-ups, etc.”
Primary care providers are uniquely positioned to address youth suicide because most adolescents still visit their primary care physician for their annual check-up, Le wrote.
She indicated providers can assist youth suicide prevention efforts by:
• Carrying out quick screenings for depression and suicidal tendencies.
• Referring at-risk patients to a behavioral health specialist.
• Following up with the patient and/or family members, and contin- uously monitoring the patient if a risk has been identified.