Small-town suicide highlights teen mental health issues

Teenage suicide shakes rural communities.

Small town residents are invested in the lives of young people, whether as a teacher, coach, friend or family member. Everyone was left with questions, worries and guilt that flooded the streets like a raging river, shaking buildings and sometimes breaking them.

Afterwards, we will have to deal with the devastation, then determine how to move forward and, more importantly, how to rebuild and protect young people.

Over the past month, a colleague and I have taken a deeper dive into how mental health affects farmers and ranchers. We looked at it from the perspective of a baby boomer and a millennial, offered the advisors' point of view and provided resources.

However, we never focused on teenagers. Honestly, I didn't think we needed it. But just before the Class of 2024 celebrated high school graduation in a rural community, I realized my mistake. One of their number was missing.

Worrying figures for rural youth

Suicide rates among rural youth are almost double those in urban areas for both men and women, according to the National Institute of Health.

A survey commissioned by the National 4-H Council and conducted by The Harris Poll surveyed more than 1,500 youth ages 13 to 19 nationwide to better understand the state of adolescent mental health and gather insights points of view of young people.

Related:Suicide and stress impact farmers' mental health

The investigation revealed:

It was difficult to read, but not as difficult as what followed. Teenagers reported feeling more pressure to hide their feelings rather than using drugs.

As Mental Health Month comes to an end, we didn't want to ignore these statistics, but rather offer help to parents of teenagers.

Starting a Difficult Conversation

Newport Academy is a network of adolescent mental health treatment centers that emphasizes that troubled teens are not “broken.” They must develop life skills and self-understanding to find their place in the world.

Its team of mental health professionals has developed these 10 questions to ask during a mental health assessment:

Related:Mental health resources for farmers

Don't ask them all the questions at once, it can be overwhelming. Choose a few that suit your child and your parenting style. The goal is to ask the questions and then truly listen to the answer.

There are signs specific to adolescents that may indicate that they are having difficulties. Simply download this mental health temperature check card, including 10 questions to ask your teen.

Take the time to share some strategies for how you manage stress. If you are reluctant to acknowledge the impact of stress on yourself or others, please visit Farm Progress Mental Health page to start your own journey.

Take time. Have the conversations. To be present. It’s time to help our rural youth navigate the floodwaters of life.