Fort Payne City Schools

Some startling statistics:

Every year, there are approximately 10 teen suicides for every 100,000 teenagers. 

Every day, there are approximately 11.5 teen suicides.

Every 2 hours and 15 minutes, a person under the age of 25 completes suicide.  

Based on these alarming statistics, the Centers for Disease Control ranks suicide as the third leading cause of death for teens and young adults between the ages of 15-24.  It also ranks suicide as the fourth leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 10-14.  

Most everyone at some time in his/her life will experience periods of anxiety, sadness, and despair.  These are nominal reactions to the pain of loss, rejection, or disappointment.  However, when a person is unable to effectively handle such adverse life events, this is when he or she may contemplate the thought of suicide.  Oftentimes, their reactions to intense emotional and/or physical pain can leave them mired in hopelessness.  When all hope is lost, some people may feel that suicide is the only solution. Suicide is a permanent solution to what is nearly always a temporary problem.  

There’s no single cause for suicide. Suicide most often occurs when stressors exceed current coping abilities of someone suffering from a mental health condition. Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated. Conditions like depression, anxiety and substance problems, especially when unaddressed, increase risk for suicide. Yet it’s important to note that most people who actively manage their mental health conditions lead fulfilling lives.

Resources:

• The Jason Foundation- The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI) is dedicated to the prevention of the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide through educational and awareness programs that equip young people, educators/youth workers and parents with the tools and resources to help identify and assist at-risk youth.
• FPCS Youth Suicide Awareness & Prevention Policy, read below: