This is not about gun control! These are the times in which we live.
" the U.S. accounts for 97% of gun-related child deaths, despite representing 46% of the total population in these similarly large and wealthy countries. Combined, the eleven other peer countries account for only 153 of the total 4,510 firearm deaths for children ages 1-19 years in these nations in 2020, and the U.S. accounts for the remainder.
Teen Suicide
Youth suicidal ideation, attempt and completion are on the rise. Far more adolescents have suicidal thoughts or attempt suicide and survive than those who die by suicide. Results from the 2019 Youth Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System show that 18.8% of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide and 8.9% actually attempted suicide. The cost of suicide attempts in the United States in 2019 was estimated to be $70 billion.
Risk factors associated with suicide among adolescents include:
- Psychiatric disorders such as major depressive, bipolar, substance use and conduct disorders.
- Psychiatric comorbidity, especially the combination of mood, disruptive and substance abuse disorders.
- Family history of depression or suicide.
- Loss of a parent to death or divorce.
- Physical and/or sexual abuse.
- Lack of a support network.
- Feelings of social isolation.
- Bullying.
Teen Deaths by Motor Vehicles
Seventy-two percent of child motor vehicle crash deaths in 2020 were passenger vehicle occupants, 17 percent were pedestrians, and 3 percent were bicyclists.