The Kansas Attorney General's Office recently partnered with national suicide prevention organization, the Jason Foundation, to develop a free mobile app that provides tools and resources to youth who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide. The app is called "Kansas - A Friend AsKS" and is available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
The "A Friend AsKS" app includes the following one-touch buttons: access to the Crisis Text Line and National Suicide Prevention Hotline; "How to Help a Friend," including warning signs, tips on how to ask someone if you think they need help, suggestions on what to do and what not to do and available resources; and a locator of behavioral mental health treatment facilities in your area.
The app also offers the option for users to call or text the 988 mental health crisis line, which was launched in Kansas in July. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the United States. The Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining local custom care and resources with national standards and best practices.
School leaders are encouraged to share information about this new service and other efforts to prevent youth suicide. Kansas schools are dealing with increasing student mental health issues that affect learning and ultimately lead to children taking their lives.
According to the Kansas State Child Death Review Board 2020 Report, 26 children in Kansas between the ages of 10-17 died by suicide in 2020. Of those 26, 22 were male, and four were female, reflecting a national trend that adolescent females are more likely to attempt suicide, but adolescent males are more likely to complete it.
Of the 26 youth suicides reported in 2020, the review board said eight youths experienced disruption in their life related to the COVID-19 pandemic that indirectly contributed to their death. Despite the impact of the pandemic, the 26 child suicide deaths in 2020 was a two-year decline since the highest number reported, 35 in 2018. However, it was still higher than in any year between 2006 and 2016.
In 2019, another report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment showed there were 83 deaths by suicide for the ten-year age range of 15-24. Suicide was the second leading cause of death in those ages, accounting for 29 percent of 285 deaths.
Those numbers do not include over 2,000 mental health visits to emergency departments and over 1,600 cases of suicidal ideation in the 10-17-year-old age range. There is wide agreement among educators and experts that youth mental health issues are increasing, including depression that can result in suicide.
The 2022 review board report contains considerable information about youth suicides in Kansas.
The report categorizes risk factors for adolescent suicide as predisposing and precipitating factors.
Predisposing factors can include mental health problems and psychiatric disorders, previous suicide attempts, family history of suicide, history of physical or sexual abuse, and exposure to violence.
Precipitating factors include access to means, alcohol and drug use, exposure to suicide by friends or family, social stress and isolation. Well-identified examples of social stress include parental divorce or separation, ostracism due to gender identity and rejection due to sexual orientation, or the breakup of a significant relationship.
The report noted that young people who identify as LGBTQ+ have higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behavior compared to their peers who identify as heterosexual and cisgender. Analysis of Kansas data is limited because, in many cases, the gender identity or sexual orientation of the victims is unknown. However, the report indicates that up to 20% of surveyed students consider themselves gay or lesbian, bisexual, "something else" or not sure, and 5-7% consider themselves transgender, non-binary, or unsure. This data is based on survey results from the Kansas Communities that Care 2022 pilot sexual orientation gender identity (SOGI) survey, survey data Child Trends, a national research organization, and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), administered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 2019.
Bullying has also been identified as a risk factor, placing both bullies and victims at risk.
The report also indicates that of the 144 cases of youth suicide in the past two years, many experienced suicidal behaviors or attempts, communicated suicidal thoughts, actions or intent, or showed other warning signs.
In 2018, then-Attorney General Derek Schmidt, in cooperation with the Tower Mental Health Foundation, created the Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force. They recommended the creation of a Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator within the Office of the Attorney General. In 2019, the Legislature passed House Bill 2290, which created the position. The position was created to lead the development, implementation, and marketing of a website, online application, and mobile phone application to facilitate communication with youth to promote safety and well-being.
Another one of the functions of the Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator is to help communities, schools, mental health professionals, medical professionals, law enforcement and others work together and coordinate efforts to prevent and address youth suicide. This includes events that bring together youth, educators, and community members from across the state to share information and receive training to prevent and address youth suicide in their communities.
School leaders can contact the Attorney General's office for more information. Here are some additional resources.
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