<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1oArJg_0lyTJRrp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1oArJg_0lyTJRrp00" width="1320" height="743" ></figure>PORTLAND, Ore. — According to the CDC, youth suicide deaths are decreasing in Oregon.There were 95 young people who died by suicide in Oregon in 2021, marking the third year in a row that the number has dropped. In 2018, 129 young people died by suicide in the state.While that number is down, statistics show a sharp increase in suicides and attempts from poisoning during the pandemic.Between 2019 and 2021, the rate increased 73% among children 10 to 12 years old. It jumped 49% among kids 13 to 15 years old.The analysis also indicates girls were more likely to ingest poison, often from common household medicines."We know that going into the pandemic we certainly were seeing increased levels of mental health needs/behavioral health needs/substance use disorders amongst children, adolescents, and young adults. That has continued during the pandemic and in many cases was exacerbated by some aspects of the pandemic," said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, Health Officer and State Epidemiologist.KATU spoke to a suicide prevention expert about the direct relationship between the length of pandemic lockdowns and the impact on youth mental health.“Even in Australia, we had different states had different lockdowns, and definitely we saw-- particularly in a state called Victoria, which had the longest lockdown in the world, they had a lot higher increase in youth suicide attempts,” said Marc Bryant, a director of suicide prevention for LivingWorks Australia.“And post-COVID, the numbers have increased in suicide numbers. So that's taking a greater effort by the sectors to support young people in those areas. So, we're still looking at research now to see what is going to be the long-term impact on that cohort as they get older,” Bryant continued.Bryant is in Portland right now for the American Association of Suicidology's annual conference at the Downtown Marriot.It is the world's largest gathering of clinicians, attempt survivors, and crisis professionals all talking about suicide prevention, and people from 17 countries are participating.On Thursday night, KATU is putting a spotlight on the mental health struggles of kids and teens.We're hosting a Recover Northwest Town Hall focusing on the toll the pandemic had on their formative years.</div></body>

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Youth suicide deaths decreasing in Oregon, CDC says

PORTLAND, Ore. — According to the CDC, youth suicide deaths are decreasing in Oregon. There were 95 young people who died by suicide in Oregon in 2021, marking the third year in a row that the number has dropped. In 2018, 129 young people died by suicide in the state.