Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in Alabama. The Alabama Department of Mental Health says teen suicide is a major issue in the state right now. In 2020, Alabama recorded 793 suicides total. 101 of those were young people between ages of 10 and 24. A grim reminder of the mental health issues facing young people.”It’s always great to just talk about it,” ADMH suicide prevention coordinator Maegan Huffman says. “Just bring it up. Just talk about it with your peers. Just talk about it with someone you feel comfortable with, such as your family or friends.”Kristen Amerson committed suicide in the spring of 2014 at the age of 11. Her brother has since started a foundation in her memory, raising awareness about the issue of youth suicide and providing resources aimed at improving mental health.”I strongly believe in being proactive, so I think we need to have more conversations with our children about what suicide is,” JacQuan Winters says. “How to recognize the warning suicides and how to intervene with someone who is dealing with an issue or may be in crisis.”Makella Moore Harris is executive director of Fine Arts Find Life, an organization aimed at providing an actual space for other agencies to reach young people to address things like mental health and suicide.”An activity, an event where teens can have a great time,” Harris explains. “You know, sometimes it’s like vegetables. You have to put chocolate on vegetables or make it fun so they don’t realize they’re information is beneficial to them.”The Alabama Department of Mental Health says there has been a greater awareness about teen suicide since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. At the same time, those early months of the pandemic really took a toll.”During the pandemic, we had many individuals to have to self-isolate,” Huffman adds. Other warning signs experts say to be on the lookout for include depression and anxiety, loss of interest in activities a person typically enjoys, and giving away personal belongings.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in Alabama.
The Alabama Department of Mental Health says teen suicide is a major issue in the state right now. In 2020, Alabama recorded 793 suicides total. 101 of those were young people between ages of 10 and 24. A grim reminder of the mental health issues facing young people.
“It’s always great to just talk about it,” ADMH suicide prevention coordinator Maegan Huffman says. “Just bring it up. Just talk about it with your peers. Just talk about it with someone you feel comfortable with, such as your family or friends.”
Kristen Amerson committed suicide in the spring of 2014 at the age of 11. Her brother has since started a foundation in her memory, raising awareness about the issue of youth suicide and providing resources aimed at improving mental health.
“I strongly believe in being proactive, so I think we need to have more conversations with our children about what suicide is,” JacQuan Winters says. “How to recognize the warning suicides and how to intervene with someone who is dealing with an issue or may be in crisis.”
Makella Moore Harris is executive director of Fine Arts Find Life, an organization aimed at providing an actual space for other agencies to reach young people to address things like mental health and suicide.
“An activity, an event where teens can have a great time,” Harris explains. “You know, sometimes it’s like vegetables. You have to put chocolate on vegetables or make it fun so they don’t realize they’re information is beneficial to them.”
The Alabama Department of Mental Health says there has been a greater awareness about teen suicide since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. At the same time, those early months of the pandemic really took a toll.
“During the pandemic, we had many individuals to have to self-isolate,” Huffman adds.
Other warning signs experts say to be on the lookout for include depression and anxiety, loss of interest in activities a person typically enjoys, and giving away personal belongings.
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