Society’s old rule for dealing with mental health and suicide – allowing stigma to keep us silent – is no longer acceptable. Over the past decade or so, we’ve learned much more about mental health and how suicide can be prevented.

We know, for example, that just like we work to maintain physical fitness, each of us needs to work to maintain and improve our mental health.

We know that, over the course of our lives, our mental health isn’t always as good as we’d like it to be, and we may need help from a professional – and there is no more shame in seeking that help than in going to the doctor for a broken bone.

And we know that talking about suicide doesn’t make it happen. In fact, raising the issue is the first step in preventing suicide, as it can lead to getting people connected to the help that they need.

It’s good we know more, because the need to address suicide among young adults has only become more urgent in recent years:

• More than 44 percent of college students have reported symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, two of the most common risk factors for suicide. (Source: Mayo Clinic) 
• More than 90 percent of campus counseling centers report an increase in demand for services. (Source: CDC)
• The second leading cause of death for youth and young adults ages 10-34 is suicide, and suicide rates for this age group in South Dakota and surrounding states are among the highest in the country. (Sources: CDC, S.D. Department of Health)