Adrianna Tatum Howard
As a mother and someone who works with young people in my community, I was heartbroken by the recent news about Sammy Teusch, a 10-year-old fourth-grader at Greenfield Middle School in Greenfield, Indiana, who committed suicide after being bullied, his parents said, right up until the moment he died. His funeral this week was attended by about 200 people, most of whom had never met the smiling, blond boy.
I wish so many people had tried to help Sammy while he was alive.
This story, along with Mental Health Awareness Month in May, got me thinking about youth mental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10-14 and the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24. For marginalized youth, the risk is significantly higher: LGBTQ+ youth are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide, and young people of color are less likely to receive mental health care despite experiencing higher rates of trauma.
Additionally, teens are also dealing with other more common stressors, such as the long-term effects of COVID-19, the overwhelming pressure to decide their future, the need to be a sports or artistic superstar, demanding schedules that don’t allow for free fun, persistent fears, discrimination, and issues related to poverty. In short, it’s not easy being a young person today.
So how do you know if your child is suffering? In addition to the more obvious symptoms like irritability, mood swings, and tearfulness, look out for noticeable changes in sleep, weight, and eating habits; loss of interest in normal activities; withdrawing from friends and family; struggling more or appearing differently academically; and signs of drug or alcohol abuse or self-harm. Young people who have run away from home or have thought about running away will display the symptoms listed above. Homeless youth and families at risk of homelessness often experience similar symptoms related to their situation and feelings of helplessness. Remember, though, that while just one symptom doesn’t mean it’s a full-blown crisis, if you see several symptoms, you should talk to your child about it.
If you are at that stage right now, keep the following points in mind: Make your child feel safe discussing difficult issues with you. Don’t open up if you think you will be lectured or criticized. Listen more than you talk, and avoid autobiographical listening. In other words, don’t make the conversation about you or how you were raised. Unbiased, factual statements work best. Instead of saying, “You’ve been acting really weird lately,” say, “I noticed you were trying not to watch Netflix with me and I was wondering if there was something going on that was making it hard for you to enjoy the things you usually like.” Accept the silence and understand that your child may be feeling embarrassed or scared in addition to other things. Control your fear and be patient.
As summer break rolls around, students often feel more isolated due to the lack of structure. Maintain a routine, practice healthy habits, and let your child know that all the emotions they’re feeling are valid — anger, fear, sadness, etc. Know when to seek professional help. Park Place Outreach can help in this area.
Above all, let us learn lessons from Sammy Teusch’s 10 years of life and encourage the young people in our lives.
Adriana Tatum Howard is Executive Director of Park Place. Park Place has served at-risk youth and their families since 1984, providing emergency shelter, meals and counseling to more than 7,000 youth across the coasts. For more information, visit Click here for details.
If you are in distress, please call 9-8-8 to be connected to trained, professional responders who can address your immediate mental health crisis needs and connect you to ongoing care.
