Dear community member,
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a crucial time to raise awareness about a preventable public health issue that so deeply affects our youth and communities.
Youth suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24.
In 2024, 13% of youth in California are experiencing serious thoughts of suicide, and 20% of youth ages 12–17 reported suffering from at least one major depressive episode in the past year. Alarmingly, 62% of these youth did not receive any mental health treatment (The State of Mental Health in America, 2024).
We also know that roughly a third of all Santa Cruz County middle and high school students report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness statewide, according to the latest California Healthy Kids Survey data.
These statistics are alarming, but they cannot possibly capture the severity of this issue. A single youth suicide is a hearbreaking tragedy that takes an incalculable toll on families, friends and communities. We must do all we can to create systems of support to prevent these unthinkable tragedies, starting with ensuring youth feel connected to school, family and community – that they feel like they belong.
Our school community plays a crucial, and expanding, role in providing and facilitating support services for students. We must continue to prioritize mental health and wellness in our schools to increase awareness of mental health issues, reduce the stigma associated with discussing mental health, and ultimately reduce the number of student suicides.
Whatever your role in our school community, I urge you to review the resources below and recommit to increasing awareness and understanding of suicide prevention:
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Santa Cruz County 24-Hour Multilingual Suicide Crisis Line: 9-8-8
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TrevorLifeLine – 24 hour hotline for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis: 1-866-488-7386
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National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Navigating a Mental Health Crisis One Pager
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National Child Traumatic Stress Network
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Santa Cruz County Schools Student & Family Behavioral Health Supports Resource List
Yours in education and equity,
Dr. Faris Sabbah
County Superintendent of Schools