...from 2007 to 2017, the number of suicides ... ages 10 to 24 ... increased 56 percent ...

[sl8]

From https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/teen-suicides-increasing-at-alarming-pace-outstripping-all-other-age-groups/2019/10/16/e24194c6-f04a-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html

Teen suicides are increasing at an alarming pace, outstripping all other age groups, a new report says

By William Wan
Oct. 17, 2019 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Suicide death rates among teenagers and young adults have increased at an alarming pace in the past decade, according to a new government report. While suicide has steadily become more common across the population, the increase among youths has outpaced all other age groups.

For many years, suicide among youths was relatively rare and its frequency relatively stable. But from 2007 to 2017, the number of suicides among people ages 10 to 24 suddenly increased 56 percent — from 6.8 deaths per 100,000 people to 10.6, the new report shows.

Suicide has become the second-most common cause of death among teenagers and young adults, overtaking homicides and outpaced only by accidents.

[...]

[Newest Reality]

1. I am glad...

I am glad that the article cited several possible factors, but left it as an open-ended question. We might also note the point about middle-aged and elderly suicide numbers.

How do we gauge a society and how well it is functioning? What factors indicate systemic problems that affect its members? Does that even matter to us these days? How much does context play into trends and statistical outcomes? We put a lot of emphasis, generally, on contents and the variables, but I think more attention needs to be payed, by the public, on processes and the framing of a culture as if it matters.

It is like how you could judge a society that is doing well in general terms, (wealth, food, etc.) by how it treats its most vulnerable and weak. We have issues!

We could shift more towards a sense of interdependence and disconnectedness, especially if the old model of the rugged individual and bootstraps nonsense were seen to no longer be viable for many reasons. Our politics should reflect that in this new, digital age, as well.

[Kid Berwyn]

2. "Singing Kevin's Song"

Help from PBS Detroit: This compelling short film highlights the work being done in our state to erase the stigma associated with mental illness and raise awareness for suicide warning signs and prevention.

http://www.dptv.org/programs/kevins-song/