PREVENTING TEEN SUICIDE: The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Announce the Teen Mini Summit on February 7th at the Frank G. Lumpkin Center at Columbus State University to Prevent Teen Suicide.

While suicide is the 11th leading cause of death for all ages in Georgia, it was the 1st leading cause of death among youth ages 10-14 from 2017-2021. The suicide rate among teens aged 10-14 doubled from 2019 through 2021. In the past five years, the number of suicide deaths among teens in Georgia has increased by 35%. Males account for 76% of teen suicide deaths from 2017 to 2021. However, females in this age group have almost three times more reported suicide attempts than their male counterparts.

We have learned from recent data and epilogue from the Covid 19 pandemic that suicide is impacting our young people at earlier ages than ever before. Through this summit, we will bring together extraordinary speakers and professionals with expertise in suicide prevention and the promotion of teen mental health and resiliency.

“With Georgia teens experiencing heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, the Teen Summit is here to offer a safe environment, resources, hope, and what they can do when someone they know is hurting, said Rachael Holloman, DBHDD Suicide Prevention Director.” "We are here to spread awareness of Georgia’s teen mental health movement as well as critical mental health resources such as 9-8-8, the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline." “We appreciate the Columbus Lions, Columbus Rapids, and Columbus State University students volunteering to assist with the event and Coca-Cola and Amerigroup providing sponsorship funds.”

The 2023 Teen Mini Summit, “Hope Changes Everything, The Remix” is for middle school-aged teens and will be held at the Frank G. Lumpkin Center at Columbus State University on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.