September was first declared as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in 2008. Since then, September has been designated as a time to acknowledge those affected by suicide, raise awareness and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a person dies by suicide approximately every two hours in Texas. When a person dies by suicide, those left behind are often burdened with conflicting feelings of guilt, anger and grief, as well as posttraumatic stress and other major life disruptions. There is evidence to show that loss survivors are often at a greater risk of attempting or dying by suicide. This dangerous cycle of mental illness can affect anyone regardless of their circumstances, means, histories, ages and identities. However, reports show that youth, especially those in the foster care system, are extremely vulnerable to suicide ideation, attempts or deaths.
Texas CASA is a strong advocate for raising awareness of mental health topics, especially as it relates to suicide prevention. In an effort to promote further understanding, we feel it is important to first dive into the sobering statistics of suicide as it relates to Texas youth.
