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10.2.2 Share of 8th & 10th Graders Self-Reporting Having Considered Committing Suicide
Why is this important?
According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, teenagers often experience strong feelings of things like stress, confusion, self-doubt, depression, pressures of all sorts, and different fears. Significant life events, such as divorce of parents or moving to a new community, can intensify some of these feelings.
Deaths, no matter what the causes are, bring grief to friends and loved ones of the deceased. Deaths from suicide, however, may leave those left behind with added feelings of sadness or even guilt because of what might have been missed opportunities to prevent the tragic outcome through treatment or other actions.
Reasons for committing suicide vary, but are often linked to mental health disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Suicide is among the leading causes of death worldwide for both the young and old. Risk factors for suicide may include feeling alone, history of depression or other mental health issues, substance abuse, physical illness, and family history of suicide or violence. Depression and suicidal thoughts can be diagnosed and treated with professional mental health intervention.
This indicator measures the share of students who have considered suicide in Skagit County while in the 8th and 10th grade, as a share of the total enrollment in each of those grades. Washington State is offered as a benchmark.
Where are we?
During 2023, the estimated share of 8th graders who had considered attempting suicide in:
- Skagit County was 15%, decreasing slightly from 16% in 2002.
- Washington State was 15%, matching the rate in 2002.
During 2023, the estimated share of 10th graders who had considered attempting suicide in:
- Skagit County was 16%, matching the rate in 2002.
- Washington State was 15%, decreasing from 18% in 2002.
Data Sources
Washington State Department of Health: Healthy Youth Survey - HYS Fact Sheets
- Select appropriate year and county. Under "Health and Health Related Behaviors", mark the appropriate grades under "Depression and Suicide".
Notes:
1) According to the State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) “measures health risk behaviors that contribute to morbidity, mortality, and social problems among youth in Washington State. These behaviors include alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, behaviors that result in unintentional and intentional injuries (e.g., violence), dietary behaviors, physical activity, and related risk and protective factors.”
2) This information comes from a survey so the data presented are estimates. Each point has a margin of error (high and low estimates), and while not presented here, they are offered by the source.
3) This indicator does not include students in private or home schools.
4) Learn more about the Healthy Youth Survey here.
