If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, the Maine Crisis Line can be reached at 1-888-568-1112 or by texting or calling 988. Newly released data shows an increase in the number of Maine teenagers who say they felt “hopeless” or seriously considered suicide. The 2021 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey surveyed more than 26,000 high school students on topics including weight, self-harm, drug use, sexual orientation and identity, health mental state, use of social media and living conditions. Another survey focused on middle school students in Maine. Among high school students, the survey found that 18.5% had seriously considered attempting suicide in the previous 12 months, an increase from 16.4% in 2019. director of health programs at the Maine office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The survey also found that among high school students, 35.9% felt so sad or hopeless almost daily for a week that they stopped some usual activities, an increase from 32.1% in 2019.” Considering from the magnitude of the changes that our young people have gone through, over the last few years in particular, I can understand how that number has grown,” Thyrring said. The dataset is released just as members of the Freeport community mourn the death of 14-year-old Theo Ferrara. His body was found in September after a five-day search. His family announced on Sunday, ahead of a life service celebration, that they believed he had taken his own life. Ferrara’s family is urging teens who may be in crisis to seek help. “Theo comes from a deeply loving family. Theo had friends who also loved him dearly. As he entered his teenage years, we, like all parents, negotiated the boundaries between his need for privacy and our parental need to protect him,” read a family statement. “It’s really important for people to be aware of changes in behavior, changes in thinking patterns, appearance, hygiene,” said Thyrring. NAMI Maine encourages parents and teens to consider the range of services they offer. This includes their Youth Mental Health First Aid training and Teen Texting Helpline.” stressors that arise for young people, they don’t really know how to deal with it, there are young people they can connect with and talk about what’s coming up for them,” said Libby Wright, coordinator at NAMI, Maine. The group recognizes that for clinical help and residential care, there are wait times in Maine. They add, however, that many resources such as the state crisis line are still available.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, the Maine Crisis Line can be reached at 1-888-568-1112 or by texting or calling 988.
Recently released data shows an increase in the number of Maine teens who say they felt “hopeless” or seriously considered suicide.
The 2021 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey surveyed more than 26,000 high school students on topics including weight, self-harm, drug use, sexual orientation and identity, health mental state, use of social media and living conditions.
Another survey focused on middle school students in Maine.
Among high school students, the survey found that 18.5% had seriously considered attempting suicide in the previous 12 months, an increase from 16.4% in 2019.
“I’m still going to be shocked when I see that number,” said Kristel Thyrring, director of youth mental health programs at the Maine office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
The survey also found that among high school students, 35.9% felt so sad or hopeless almost daily for a week that they stopped some usual activities, an increase from 32.1% in 2019.
“Given the magnitude of the changes our young people have gone through, over the past few years in particular, I can understand how that number has increased,” Thyrring said.
The dataset is released just as members of the Freeport community mourn the death of 14-year-old Theo Ferrara.
His body was found in September after a five-day search.
His family announced on Sunday, ahead of a life service celebration, that they believed he had taken his own life.
Ferrara’s family is urging teens who may be in crisis to seek help.
“Theo comes from a deeply loving family. Theo had friends who also loved him dearly. As he entered his teenage years, we, like all parents, negotiated the boundaries between his need for privacy and our parental need to protect him,” read a family statement.
“It’s really important for people to be aware of changes in behavior, changes in thinking, in appearance, in hygiene,” Thyrring said.
NAMI Maine encourages parents and teens to consider the range of services they offer.
This includes their Youth Mental Health First Aid training and Teen Text Helpline.
“If there are stressors that arise for young people they don’t really know how to deal with, there are young people they can connect with and talk about what’s coming up for them,” said said Libby Wright, coordinator at NAMI. Maine.
The group recognizes that for clinical help and residential care, there are wait times in Maine.
They add, however, that many resources such as the state crisis line are still available.
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