Number of preteen suicides continues to climb in U.S.

Although the number of preteens — ages 8 to 12 — who die by suicide in the United States each year is relatively small, the total of 194 in 2025 was the most since at least 2001, according to preliminary data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: “Rise in US preteen suicide rate alarms mental health experts,” Ohio Capital Journal, July 29).
 
Since 2008, the rate of preteen suicide has increased by an average of 8.2% annually, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health. Their analysis, published in 2024, found that Black preteens had the highest overall suicide rate, while girls and Hispanic preteens had the greatest percentage increase.
 
Suicide is complex and is often the result of a combination of factors. Talking with trusted adults and connecting kids with help can aid in prevention, and research shows most who have suicidal thoughts do not carry through with them. Mental health experts and advocates are calling for more mental health check-ins with preteens, earlier screenings and tailored interventions for Native, Black and LGBTQ+ preteens.
 
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has resources for parents or others who frequently interact with kids, including a toolkit called “Talk Saves Lives” that offers guidelines and tips for steering such conversations.
 
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org 24/7 for free and confidential support. Alternatively, any Ohioan under age 20 can access mobile response and stabilization services (MRSS), in which a team of trained professionals meets the child where they are within 60 minutes. MRSS is a free service for children statewide.