NJ Explores How To Fight Rising Suicide Rate Among Black Children

Hoboken NJ

29 April, 2022

2:21 PM

Description

NEW JERSEY — After a national study in 2018 said that Black children age 5-12 are twice as likely to die by their own hand by white children the same age, state officials and experts have floated strategies to try to help, particularly at a time in which kids face increasing stressors and mental health challenges. According to a story in NJ Spotlight, suicide rates have been increasing among Black youth in New Jersey, and experts say that faltering access to health services, including mental health, plays a role, as well as stressors at home and in school. Even before the pandemic, suicide was the second leading cause of death in New Jersey for young Black men and women ages 15 to 24, said Devin English, assistant professor of Urban-Global Public Health at Rutgers, in the piece. English has studied discrimination against racial and sexual minorities in the United States. Help For All Adolescents Last year, the state created a portal to help adolescents going through a mental health crisis, listing phone numbers for care, hotline number, and various resources. They have also expanded PerformCare services. Parents can call PerformCare 24 hours a day to learn about available services if their child needs help with an emotional or behavioral problem. "Returning to the classroom and regular activities after the disruptions of COVID-19 may cause stress and anxiety for students of any age," says a note at the top of the state's new portal. "These feelings are normal and to be expected; everyone has tough days, but if children or adolescents are exhibiting unusual behavior for extended periods, they may be in need of additional support and care." The site lists numerous hotlines and services for LGBTQ youth and others. Check out the state's resource page for young adult mental health services here. The state also announced initiatives to support youth mental health in 2020. But is it enough, particularly where minority youth are concerned? Spotlight notes that school districts in the state provide one counselor for every 400 students, but in Newark, for example, it's closer to one per 540 pupils. In addition, children may not have parents in their lives to guide them, the story notes, saying the incarceration rate for black men in New Jersey is 12.5 percent higher than for white men. 'Significant Barriers' For Immigrant Children As Well Meanwhile, last week, Chalkbeat said that immigrant children in New Jersey face "significant barriers" to mental health treatment as well. "A child's experience migrating to a new country can be traumatic, isolating, and distressing — on top of that, the pandemic has caused significant loss and grief for immigrant and refugee communities," notes the story. Warning SIgns Johns Hopkins lists risks of teen suicide, including: Changes in eating and sleeping habitsLoss of interest in usual activitiesWithdrawal from friends and family membersActing-out behaviors and running away See more about that here. How To Get Support Or A Screening If you are in a crisis, visit www.njhopeline.com, call the NJ Suicide Prevention Hopeline at 1-855-654-6735, or the national Suicide Prevention Lifeline : 1-800-273-8255. For psychiatric emergencies, here is link to have someone screened. Parents can call PerformCare 24 hours a day to learn about available services if their child needs help with an emotional or behavioral problem. Read more of the Spotlight NJ story on Black youths and suicide here. You can get a free daily newsletter each morning at 6 a.m. with local news in your town, or get breaking news alerts. Sign up with your zip code here and you'll get an email asking for your preferences. Get a free morning newsletter with news in any New Jersey town: https://patch.com/subscribe