Older adults sometimes fail to understand the enormous pressure felt by kids these days, Dr. Judy Hughey, an educator and representative of Kansas school counselors, said.
She recalled a recent conversation with a grandfather who said kids these days have many advantages and shouldnt complain. They should see what I had to do as a child, he told her.
He represents a lot of people in our community, Hughey said. They dont understand the pressure to be perfect all the time. To be the perfect athlete. To have the perfect ACT score. To be active in their communities.
In her work with school counselors and students, Hughey sees how that kind of pressure affects todays youth. Its one of many factors that concern her when it comes to addressing the problem of youth suicide.
Our students are hurting at rates we cant even imagine, Hughey, who represents the Kansas School Counselor Association and Kansas Association of Counselor Education and Supervision, said. Students describe being at the bottom of a black hole and not knowing what to do about it.
Its impossible to know exactly what drives a young person to commit suicide, Hughey and others said during presentations to a newly formed task for studying the issue. The task force met Aug. 31 at Allen Community College and is expected to recommend by years end steps to reduce the number of children who die by their own hand. A crowd of about 40 attended the meeting, with a mix of state and local officials along with representatives of schools, churches, Hope Unlimited, Thrive Allen County, CASA, ACMAT and more. Some said they attended because of the loss of a family member to suicide.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Dr. Walt Menninger formed the Tower Mental Health Foundation/Attorney General Suicide Prevention Task Force earlier this year. They cited an alarming statistic from the State Child Death Review Board: Youth suicides more than doubled in Kansas between 2005 and 2015, rising from 1.1 to 2.5 per 100,000 population.
The task forces intentions are admirable, presenter Chris Maxwell said, but posed tough questions for the group:
How will they define success? How do they measure deaths by suicide, or attempts? How do they coordinate data between agencies? What causes rates to go up or down? What programs work at reducing deaths?
Weve been addressing suicide for 50 years and the rates continue to go up. And we still dont know, he said. We dont know what causes suicide.
Maxwell represents the American Association of Suicidology.
ITS NOT just students using drugs and alcohol who attempt suicide, Hughey said, or those who come from a difficult situation at home.
And its not just middle and high school students, she said. Were seeing record numbers of elementary-aged children expressing a desire to die. Not just saying it, but with a plan.
She cited several ways to help students, such as teaching coping skills, enjoying exercise and volunteering with local groups.
It comes down to one thing: Relationships. If a student feels comfortable to go in and say to someone, I cant take it anymore, then theres a better chance for help, she said.
