Recent data from the Kansas Health Institute paints a grim picture: between 2001 and 2020, suicide deaths among young individuals aged 10 to 24 in Kansas surged by a staggering 65%. Amid growing concerns, mental health providers and the U.S. surgeon general have pointed to social media as a contributing factor to this alarming trend.
In response, a Kansas-based initiative known as Zero Reasons Why is actively combatting the stigma surrounding mental health issues among teenagers.
Katie Smith, a junior at Valley Center High School, is among the youth actively involved in Zero Reasons Why. Despite her own struggles with mental health, Smith has taken on the responsibility of addressing the issue head-on by engaging with fellow teens across the state.
“I don’t like to talk about it, but it needs to be talked about, so I’m going to talk about it,” Smith asserts.
Members of Zero Reasons Why, like Smith, visit schools to facilitate discussions on mental health, aiming to destigmatize the topic among adolescents.
The stark rise in youth suicide deaths underscored by the Kansas Health Institute data adds urgency to Zero Reasons Why’s mission. Notably, the 65% increase in suicides in Kansas outpaced the 41% rise observed nationwide. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murphy has labeled the situation a crisis, citing a surge in depression, anxiety, suicide, and loneliness among young people.
While social media often shoulders blame, Zero Reasons Why Campaign Director Jeff Short highlights the group’s efforts to leverage social media positively. Short emphasizes the power of peer support and openness in schools, noting a decrease in teen suicides as Zero Reasons Why expands its reach.
“We’re seeing those stats fall, so we’re seeing the number of attempts fall and we’re seeing the overall completion of suicides fall as well,” Short remarks.
For Smith, cultivating compassion is paramount in addressing the crisis. “We need to teach compassion,” she stresses. “I think that’s what we’re really lacking as a community is compassion for each other.”
Zero Reasons Why, which originated in Johnson County in 2018, has since expanded its footprint to various regions across Kansas, including Sedgwick County. As the initiative gains momentum, it remains committed to reshaping the narrative surrounding teen mental health and fostering a culture of support and understanding.
