Suicide is the third leading cause of death during adolescence and the second leading cause in young adults. For adolescents aged 15 to 19 years of age, suicide rates have tripled in the years between 1960 and 1980. Each year, almost 5,000 young people, ages 15 to 24, commit suicide. Suicide rates among young people of color have also risen in recent years. In the African American community, suicide rates have increased dramatically.
Society stigmatizes mental health problems.
As such, significant cultural and ethnic barriers inhibit the widespread use of mental health services available to children and youth. Seven percent of children born on any given day will commit 70 percent of the violent crimes between ages 12 and 17. It is imperative that we recognize high risk factors and engage in early prevention. For example, pre-natal care is a significant factor in the health of the child, and a mother who is healthy while she is pregnant will most likely have a physically and mentally healthy child. There is a clear connection between substance abuse and school violence.