Yolo Community Health Case Study

In the United States, suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 10 to 14-year-olds (CDC, 2015) and for 15 to 19-year-olds (Friedman, 2008). In 2013, 17.0% of students grades 9 to 12 in the United States seriously thought about committing suicide; 13.6% made a suicide plan; 8.0% attempted suicide; and 2.7% attempted suicide in which required medical attention (CDC, 2015). These alarming statistics show that there is something wrong with the way suicide is handled in today’s society. In order to alleviate the devastating consequences of teenage suicide, it is important to get at the root of what causes it all: mental illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (2013), mental illness is the imbalance of thinking, state of mind, and mood. Approximately 90% of all suicides are committed by people with mental illnesses (NAMI, n.d.). This shows that there is a correlation between mental illness and suicide. If mental illnesses are not treated, deadly consequences could occur. It would make sense that if there is a correlation between mental illness and suicide across all ages, the same should be thought for adolescents. Approximately 21% of all teenagers have a treatable mental illness (Friedman, 2008), although 60% do not receive the help that they need (Horowitz, Ballard, & Pao, 2009). If mental illnesses are not found and treated in teenagers, some of them may pay the ultimate price.

“Nearly 5 million children in the U.S. have some type of mental illness” (Goldberg). It is agreeable that there are many young children that deal with mental illness every day. Schools should be concerned for every student’s well being. Moreover, mental health is a part of a person’s overall “well being.” Therefore, schools need to make the mental health of students a stronger focus and implement plans to keep students mentally well and educated. To help create a positive, mental health aware environment where students feel open to seek help, high school students should be educated on how to be mentally healthy, be given a safe place to seek help, and be encouraged to monitor and maintain their mental health. Mental illness and mental health care need to be a more eminent priority in our society, starting with high schools.

In the United States, suicide is the third leading cause of death for 10 to 14-year-olds (CDC, 2015) and for 15 to 19-year-olds (Friedman, 2008). In 2013, 17.0% of students grades 9 to 12 in the United States seriously thought about committing suicide, 13.6% made a suicide plan, 8.0% attempted suicide, and 2.7% attempted suicide in which required medical attention (CDC, 2015). These alarming statistics show that there is something wrong with the way mental illness is handled in today’s society. Also, approximately 21% of all teenagers have a treatable mental illness (Friedman, 2008), although 60% do not receive the help that they need (Horowitz, Ballard, & Pao, 2009).

Inpatient adolescents were recruited from a psychiatric hospital located in the suburban region of a large metropolitan area. Respondents ranged in age from 13 to 18 years (Danielson, 2003). Of the 98 adolescents, 53 were girls and 85 were white. Most patients were of middle class socioeconomic status and possessed insurance that covered inpatient psychiatric treatment. Sixty-seven of the youths were hospitalized for attempting suicide. The remaining 31

According to Fowler, Crosby, Parks, and Ivey (2013), suicide and nonfatal suicidal ideations are significant public health concerns for adolescents and young adults. While the onset of suicidal behaviors is observed as young as six years of age, rates of death and nonfatal injury resulting from suicidal behavior are moderately low until 15 years of age (Fowler et al., 2013). According to Fowler et al (2013), the most current available statistics in the United States (U. S.) reported suicide as the third leading cause of death among youth aged 10-14 and 15-19 years, and it was the second leading cause of death among persons aged 20-24 years.

There has been a decade-long spike in the awareness of mental illness and suicide ideation among teenagers and young adults. Accordingly, researchers have determined, based on the results of numerous studies and trials, that there exists the possibility of dramatically reducing mental illness, suicides and suicidal behavior, thereby raising the potential of promoting overall wellness among young people. Many political leaders and mental health professionals, encouraged by the results of the studies, have asked school administrators and community leaders to enact awareness and prevention programs in their jurisdictions, while requesting that program leaders take responsibility for program results (e.g., No Child Left Behind, 2002).

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people age 15 to 34 years of age (Center for Disease Control [CDC], 2015). More than 25% of all high school age adolescents in the United States who took part in a youth risk behavior survey felt symptoms of depression almost every day for two or more consecutive weeks (CDC, 2012). Adolescents who are depressed are at higher risk for suicide. Early recognition and treatment is crucial to preventing suicide attempts (King & Vidourek, 2012). Screening for adolescent depression is an important step in implementing the Institute of Medicine (2001) recommendation for improving safety in health care. In addition, the care provided must be patient centered and equitable. This quality improvement project aims to provide screening for adolescent depression for all patients age 12 years and older during routine well-child visits.

Transform can be very cost effective as it is adopted into the local school’s curriculum and incorporate school officials such as the guidance counselor, the school nurse, and advisors/ homeroom teachers. The social group will not only address suicide, but mental health in general by taking 30 minutes of the school day to have an open confidential discussion twice a month. For many years there have been a social stigma linked to mental health, causing some people hide, ignore, or become ashamed of publicizing a possible issue. It is important to open the line of communication with adolescents and allow them to feel comfortable about talking with someone confidentially. Transform will include ways to identify risk factors and common causes of mental disturbances, as well as allow young adults to share their stories.

Mental illnesses are very common in the United States, with one in five of adolescents having a diagnosed mental illness and in the last year less than half of these adolescents have received proper treatment. The most common mental disorders, anxiety and depression, can disrupt daily life and result in suicide, which is the third most frequent cause of death in teenagers (“The Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services”). Ten percent of adolescents did not have health insurance in 2013 and those who did, had a very limited amount of mental health care services provided to them (“The Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services”). It has been proved that it is even less likely that adolescents who are poor, homeless, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender will receive the care that is necessary for their health and even life (“The Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services”). Mental disorders are not only an

Thesis + preview: today I’m going to inform you about the increasing number of suicide deaths among teens, mental illnesses that can lead to suicide or self-harm, and the signs of someone that may be struggling with depression, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts. Transition: over the years mental

Access to mental health care is not as good as than other forms of medical services. Some Americans have reduced access to mental health care amenities because they are living in a countryside setting. Others cannot get to treatment for the reason of shortage of transportation or vast work and household tasks. In some areas, when a

Before the age of eighteen nearly a fourth of all young persons will deal with mental illness (Shirk and Jungbluth 217). Only around a third of these children will receive professional treatment (United States Public Health Service qtd. in Shirk and Jungbluth 222). Because of the risk of suicide in mentally ill young people, it is crucial that mental health services are readily available to our youth in school settings. Therefore, schools should administer mandatory mental health screenings because mental illness often affects academic performance, and the majority of young persons that commit suicide have a treatable illness.

Teenage mental-health severely impacts a developing child's success in school and their day-to-day lives. Issues like depression and suicide need to be explored in our education because many are being affected.

Suicide is the third leading cause of deaths in adolescents in the United States. Teen suicide is also often referred to as a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Teens so often are suicidal and attempt suicide as a call for help from others. They have no intention in dying they are just trying to cry out for help from anyone that will listen. Many reasons cause teen to attempt suicide, varying from bullying to psychological disorders. In fact, psychological disorders accounts for about 90% of teens who attempt or commit suicide. Teenagers are also at higher risk of suicide when they are under

Self-injury is an major issue in our society and schools need to do more to help teens handle mental issue. Self-injury is a complicated and often misunderstood phenomenon that is a growing problem in teenagers and adolescents (plante 1). Self-injury is also an dangerous act that can lead to a worst situation. Self-harm is not necessarily a serious mental illness, but a behavior that indicates a lack of coping skills. There are several illnesses that are associated with it such as: borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, anxiety or posttraumatic distress disorder. In recent years, Self-injury as become more common. Approximately two million cases are reported annually in the United States (Gluck 1). Hospitalizations among youngs for intentional self-harm