Suicide is a growing public health crisis; here’s how Scouting is trying to help

Suicide — and suicide attempts — are serious public health challenges.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was responsible for 49,476 deaths in 2022. That’s about one death every 11 minutes.

Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and if there’s any good news, it’s this: Suicide is preventable.

There are several different strategies to preventing suicides, and some of them — such as improving financial security and stabilizing housing situations — are beyond our control.

However, when reading over this list of strategies, I couldn’t help but notice how Scouting can help with many of them.

Create protective environments

Check.

A Scouting pack, troop, crew, ship, post or club is like a mini-community within a community. It might not be as tight-knit and valuable as a family or even a close friend group, but it’s still a wonderful opportunity for like-minded families from different backgrounds to come together and participate in activities that help their children learn to be confident leaders.

Promote healthy connections

Check.

Engaging in shared activities with other kids can give youth a greater feeling of connectivity with others, leading to increased self-esteem and higher self-worth.

Teach coping and problem-solving skills

Check.

I mean … this one is what Scouting is all about. Tying knots, earning merit badges, sleeping outdoors, cooking dinner in the wilderness … all of those things are great, but what they’re really about is helping kids deal with adversity and learn to solve problems under the watchful eye of responsible adults who are there to guide as needed.

When a child successfully cooks a pot of stew in rainy conditions on a chilly night, sure, they’ve filled their bellies with something tasty, but what they’ve actually done is learned that they can handle a challenging situation.

Scouting America’s MESH initiatives

Suicidal behavior is complex and multilayered. Because of this, suicide prevention strategies must operate at multiple levels.

The Safe Scouting Medical Subcommittee, long the domain of initiatives like Wilderness First Aid and general safety in all of Scouting’s programs, has recently increased its efforts to educate youth in MESH: mental, emotional and social health initiatives.

The latest MESH-related efforts can be seen in the Mental, Emotional, and Social Health (MESH) Planning Template for Councils and an upcoming revision to the First Aid merit badge pamphlet that includes information on suicide, including knowing the indications that someone might be a danger to themselves or others and knowing what action you should take if you suspect that someone might be a danger to themselves or others.

The committee’s Safety Moment on Youth Suicide Prevention continues to be a valuable tool for youth and adults alike. There are also Safety Moments on Depression, Resilience and Psychological First Aid.

“Being an adolescent or teenager can be stressful, and it’s only gotten more challenging in the post-pandemic era,” says Warren Franke, a former exercise physiologist professor at Iowa State University and the lead doctor for the Safe Scouting Medical Subcommittee. “Given the mental health issues Scout-age youth are experiencing now, we needed to be even more purposeful in addressing those concerns, so it’s only natural that we expanded our focus to include efforts that help our Scouts be as mentally, emotionally and socially healthy as they can be.”

How a Scout leader can help

Be aware of and look out for the risks:

• Talking about being a burden
• Being isolated
• Increased anxiety
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
• Increased substance use
• Looking for a way to access lethal means
• Increased anger or rage
• Extreme mood swings
• Expressing hopelessness
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Talking or posting about wanting to die
• Making plans for suicide

Know the five steps to help someone at risk:

1. Ask. Asking the question “Are you thinking about suicide?” isn’t going to plant an idea in anyone’s head. Instead, it communicates that you’re open to speaking about suicide in a nonjudgmental and supportive way. It’s also helpful to simply ask, “Are you OK?”
2. Be there. This could mean being physically present for someone, speaking with them on the phone when you can, or any other way that shows support for the person at risk.
3. Keep them safe. This could mean staying with someone until help arrives, always following Scouting America’s rules of two-deep leadership. Extra steps such as calling for emergency help or driving them to an emergency room might be necessary.
4. Help them connect. Helping someone with thoughts of suicide connect with ongoing supports (like the 988 Lifeline) can help them establish a safety net for those moments they find themselves in a crisis.
5. Follow up. The follow-up step is a great time to check in with them to see if there is more you are capable of helping with or if there are things you’ve said you would do and haven’t yet had the chance to get done for the person.

Other resources include the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or the Crisis Text Line.

Scouting America’s video and discussion guide for suicide awareness

In 2023, Scouting America released a video and discussion guide designed to be used at a September meeting of any of the organization’s programs for older youth: Scouts BSA units, Venturing crews, Sea Scout ships and Exploring posts.

The video is designed to be viewed in a group setting, with a post-viewing discussion facilitated by an adult. It is not meant to be viewed by a youth in a standalone viewing experience, and it is not meant to be viewed by a group of Scouts without the use of the discussion guide. The post-viewing, adult-facilitated discussion is required to put much of what the youth just watched into perspective.

The video and ensuing discussion are designed to take 15-20 minutes and could take place during one of the gatherings you already have planned for September. The unit committee and the unit’s parents should determine if the video is appropriate for their unit and, if so, which ages of youth they should invite to view and discuss it.

Click here to learn more.

If you or anyone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you can call or text 988 or chat with them online at any time. There is also a dedicated number for Spanish-language speakers: 1-888-628-9454.