National Suicide Awareness Week September 7-13th , 2025

What is the third leading cause of death occurring in 10–24-year-olds? It is suicide. (American SPCC, 2025)

Why is this occurring?  This tragedy can occur amongst individuals experiencing intensive trauma, bullying, depression, sadness, anxiety, grief, and loss and currently AI/ChatGPT interaction. How can we address this impact happening with our adolescents and early adults? We can help by addressing the difficult and distressful situations they are facing and look to maintain healthy relationships and emotional steadiness.

Please see video Unbreakable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE2mVz1YePM

Let us define several stressors that can occur in our lives and the lives of our adolescents and young adult:

Trauma is a stressful event that overwhelms you. It can be a physical, violent, emotional, sexual attack or a continued abuse or neglect situation.  Trauma events invoke the fight, flight, or freeze response. (Psych Central, 2025)

Bullying, The five types of bullying are:  

Physical bullying: The most obvious form, involving physical harm or aggression.

Verbal bullying: Involves name-calling, teasing, or hurtful language.

Relational bullying: Aims to harm someone's social standing or relationships.

Cyber bullying: Occurs online through social media, texts, or emails.

Prejudicial bullying: Targets someone based on their race, religion, gender, or other characteristics. (Medical News Today, 2024)

Grief and Loss can be the sadness or loss of a loved one, relationship, job, or home…

Grief and loss can affect you physically, emotionally, and cognitively. Usually there is a 5-stage cycle of grief we go through: Sadness, Anger, Denial, Bargaining, Acceptance.

Depression, Depression, or sadness which occurs excessively for a 2-week period can lead to isolation and suicidal ideations without a specific plan or suicidal attempts. 

Symptoms are: 

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day. 

• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day. 

• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.  

• A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down). 

• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day. 

• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day. (DSMV-TR)

Anxiety, Anxiety is excessive worry or fear about situations which threaten balance at home, school, or work. The symptoms are:

• Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge

• Easily fatigued

• Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank

• Irritability

• Muscle tension

• Sleep disturbance such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless and unsatisfying sleep.  

• These symptoms last are ongoing for at least 6 months or more. (DSMV-TR)

AI/ChatGPT Interaction, With AI individuals are looking for support, information, and emotional validation for incidents or situations they are going through, however these are sensitive matters which need human interaction, i.e. parents, caregivers, therapists, and psychiatrists. Human connection gives a real sense of comfort not a robot who gives false comfort or advise.

Proactive and Encouraging Steps for Parents, Friends, and Educators, Overall, for help it is suggested to use actionable advice for those who interact with young people, such as how to create a safe space for dialogue, recognize the signs of distress, and provide empathetic support. Also, it is helpful to address the importance of reducing the stigma around seeking help and encouraging open communication. Another proactive suggestion is exploring the idea of forming strong, supportive networks which can play a huge role in mental health resilience. This can be through school programs, peer support groups, or simply encouraging teenagers to talk about their feelings without fear of judgment.

Resources for Support, With Suicide ideations we must recognize warning signs, ask the right questions, and refer to resources. The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988), is very helpful along with 988lifeline.org, to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

Dr. Virginia Jones, LCSW