September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, but at Meridian, our commitment goes far beyond a single month of the year.
This year, I believe we need to pay particular attention to our young people.
Indiana is facing a youth mental health crisis. Nearly half of Indiana high school students reported experiencing persistent sadness or hopelessness, and one in four seriously considered suicide.
These aren’t simply statistics. They represent young people in our schools, neighborhoods and families who may be struggling quietly and unsure where to turn.
Suicide is now the second-leading cause of death for middle- and high-school-aged Hoosiers. That reality demands our attention throughout the year.
Youth mental health cannot be treated as an issue for families to manage alone. It is a community responsibility.
Parents, educators, coaches, health care providers, employers and community leaders all have a role to play. We need to create environments where young people feel safe saying, “I’m struggling.” We need adults who are willing to listen without judgment, recognize warning signs and connect young people with help before they reach a crisis point.
There is reason for hope.
Mental health challenges are treatable, suicide is preventable, and connection matters. Sometimes the most important first step is also the simplest: noticing when someone is struggling and starting a conversation.
Young people need to know they are seen, they are heard and that help is within reach.
That is a message worth carrying well beyond September.
- Seth Warren, president and CEO, Meridian Health Services
