Suicide is a lead indicator of the prevalence of mental health problems

When a youth or young adult, with their future before them, contemplates or commits suicide, the human family is always greatly shocked and saddened. Suicide was the third leading cause of death for 15 to 19-year-olds (58 children) and the second for 20 to 24-year-olds (131 children) in Florida in 2000. Between 1999 and 2000, Florida youth suicides increased among 20 to 24-year-olds. While white males are at greater risk of death from suicide and harming themselves enough to be hospitalized, females are almost twice as likely to seriously consider and attempt suicide. Nearly 35 percent of Florida's female 9th to 12th grade students and 22 percent of male students reported feeling sad or hopeless. Ideational suicide or the consideration of suicide is another important measure, because it suggests how many children might benefit from mental health services.

Figure 47: Florida and U.S. High School Students Who Felt Sad or Hopeless, Seriously Considered Suicide, and Attempted Suicide, 1999-2001

Data source: Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) 1999 and 2001 (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr)

School attendance by children with a serious emotional disturbance (SED) was chosen as a lead indicator for Mental Health because it is a strong behavioral indicator of a child's future self-sufficiency and is an important aspect of the child's overall ability to function.

Source: Department of Children and Families DCF Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Plan 2002 Update, January 1, 2002, p. 73

Figure 48: Percent of Available Days SED Children Attended During the Last 30 Days by Florida Fiscal Year, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-2001