For teenagers and young adults, suicide is the second-leading cause of death. Many people struggle to see the warning sign when a person is struggling with suicidal thoughts. Around 20 percent of high schoolers have reported having thoughts of suicide, and around 9 percent have attempted it (APA). In young adults, suicide rates have risen 52.2 percent from 2000. Many students claim that they are experiencing depression that is severely impacting their ability to focus on school, family, or social life. 69% of LGBTQ+ students reported having feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness (APA).  According to the Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to commit suicide than their peers. 45% of LGBTQ youth have considered attempting suicide. In 2022, there were 49,449 suicides (CDC). 

Individuals from historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups are also at high risk of suicide. In 2021, there was a sharp rise in suicides among people of color. From ages 10 to 24, suicide rates went up 36.6%. Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native individuals also have high suicide rates, with 42.6% of males and 13.8% of females. The rate was 36.3 per 100,000 people in 2021 (APA).  

The problem is that many mental health services may be difficult to access. Many teenagers who need mental health care are unable to do so. 56% of LGBTQ youth in the past year have attempted to get mental health care but were unable to (Trevor Project). About a third of adults in America with mental illness reported they were unable to receive care—that is, 28.2% of adults. 59.8% of youth in America with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. In America, there are around 350 patients for each mental health provider (MHA).  To solve the problem of a lack of mental health services in America, we need to increase the amount of mental health care. We need to increase the mental health workforce.