CONNECTICUT: Indicators of teen depression, earlier suicides, on the rise
May 15, 2015
Based on new data about self-harm and suicidal behavior among youth in Connecticut, the state’s Office of the Child Advocate and its Child Fatality Review Panel jointly urged several improvements to services and greater involvement by the state legislature. Specific measures recommended include more mental health screenings of youth by health care providers and schools, better access to clinical care, and an annual legislative hearing to keep lawmakers informed about child fatalities and prevention strategies. The overall number of children who die by suicide in Connecticut has declined since 2007, but their average age has dropped from 17 to just over 14. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, administered every two years to high school students, the number of teens in the state who report feeling hopeless has risen recently, as has the number of those who have engaged in intentional self-injury.
Spark Extra! Learn about the use of state-level, multidisciplinary Child Death Review Teams as a source of important information for suicide prevention efforts.