The risk of suicide for kids and teens rises during the school year, researchers said, reflecting the impact of its social and learning pressures on young people’s mental health.
Children from the ages of 10 to 18 are more likely to appear at hospitals for suicidal thoughts or attempts in the spring and fall than during summer vacation, according to a study from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston released Wednesday. The pattern paused in the beginning of 2020, when many schools emptied during the early days of COVID-19.
After falling during the first year of the pandemic, suicides rose dramatically in the U.S. in 2021, jumping about a third to more than 48,000 amid lockdowns, loss of loved ones and fear of the coronavirus. Although suicide risk is known to be seasonal, with some research linking springtime increases to changes in the weather, the study reinforces the role of the demanding school schedule and environment.
