Promising new data shows a decline in suicide ideation and attempts among adolescents and young adults. But the youth mental health crisis continues to be one of the most pressing challenges of our time.
This September, Newport Healthcare is partnering for the tenth year in a row with To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), a nonprofit movement dedicated to finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Together, we’re working to create hope and healing for people of all ages.
Join Us for a Special Online Event!
September 16, 2026 | 9:00 am PT/12:00 pm ET
Newport x TWLOHA:
A Screening & Conversation on Suicide Prevention
Join Newport and TWLOHA experts to view a new documentary and discuss the power of working together to build awareness and make a difference.
The Newport-TWLOHA Partnership
TWLOHA raises funds to educate communities, provide hope and encouragement, and connect people to the help they deserve. TWLOHA’s 2026 campaign theme is This Is NOT the End of Your Story.
Newport Healthcare has partnered with TWLOHA since 2017, donating $10,000 each year to support the organization’s goal of preventing suicide in young people.
We are grateful for all that TWLOHA does to raise awareness, promote prevention, and erase the stigma of suicide. Remaining idle is not an option when so many are struggling with thoughts of self-harm and hopelessness. Newport is proud to play a part in helping people access much-needed treatment.
Joe Procopio, Chairman of the Board, Newport Healthcare
The TWLOHA Story
The organization’s name comes from the title of a short story written by Jamie Tworkowski, TWLOHA’s founder. A teen girl named Renee Yohe, who self-harmed by cutting her arms, was the inspiration for the story and, ultimately, for TWLOHA itself.
When Jamie met Renee, she was 19, and struggling with substance use and depression. They kept her safe and supported her to find treatment—in fact, Jamie and his friends sold T-shirts to help pay for her care. It was a life-changing experience for Jamie, who went on to become a pivotal figure in the suicide prevention movement.
TWLOHA became an official nonprofit in 2007 and since then has donated over $3 million directly toward treatment. Its “Find Help” tool has fielded 56,000 searches since 2018, made by people seeking affordable, local mental health resources. As well as fundraising, TWLOHA offers ways for people to get involved online, in their communities, and/or professionally.
Help people get the treatment they need by donating to TWLOHA.
Suicide Rates Are Dropping—But There Is Still Work to Be Done
Research from government and nonprofit agencies show that teen and young adult suicide rates have dropped since the early years of the pandemic. In 2025, fewer young people ages 12–25 were having suicidal thoughts, making a suicide plan, or attempting suicide than in 2021, according to Jed Foundation research.
But the numbers are still too high: Mental Health America reports that 3 million youth experienced suicidal ideation in 2025. Here are some of the suicide statistics that show the urgent need for continued support and treatment.
10 Youth and Young Adult Suicide Statistics
- Among 12- to 17-year-olds, about 10 percent had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, 5 percent made a plan, and 3 percent made an attempt.
- Among 18- to 25-year-olds, about 11% had serious thoughts of suicide, 4% made a plan, and 2% made an attempt.
- Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children, teens, and young adults, ages 10–34.
- In July 2026, out of every 100,000 emergency room visits by adolescents, 897 visits were related to suspected suicide attempts.
- 40 percent of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year.
- In 2025, 97,000 US youth (under the age of 18) took a depression screening on Mental Health America’s website, and 51 percent reported frequent suicidal ideation (thoughts of suicide more than half of the days of the previous two weeks). This marks the highest rate of youth suicidal ideation recorded since the launch of MHA’s screening program in 2014.
- A 2026 study of college students, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, found that depression symptoms steadily increased between 2007 and 2022, with suicidal ideation increasing by nearly 154 percent.
- The Trevor Project’s 2025 survey found that 45 percent of LGBTQ teens considered suicide in the past year, and 15 percent made a suicide attempt. Among young adults, those numbers were 32 and 8 percent.
- 15.4 percent of US adolescents had a major depressive episode in the past year, according to Mental Health America’s most recent report.
- The United States faces a severe shortage of mental healthcare providers. As of 2025, only 27 percent of the need for therapeutic services was being met across the country.
10 Warning Signs of Suicide in Young People
There are ways to recognize whether someone is considering a suicide attempt. Here are some of the warning signs that parents, teachers, school psychologists, and peers should be able to identify:
- Talking or posting on social media about suicide or wanting to die
- Expressing feels of being hopeless or trapped
- Increasing use of drugs and/or alcohol
- Changes in weight, appearance, or sleep habits
- Gathering drugs, sharp objects, firearms, or other items that could be used to inflict self-harm
- Isolating themselves and withdrawing from friends
- Searching online for methods of committing suicide
- Visiting or calling people to say goodbye, and giving away prized possessions
- Risk-taking or self-destructive behavior
- Suddenly becoming calm or cheerful after a long period of depression
If you see any of these signs, take the following actions:
- Do not leave the person alone.
- Remove anything that could be used in a suicide attempt, including firearms, alcohol, drugs, razors, or other sharp objects.
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
- Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
How We Can Help Prevent Suicide in Young People
Along with family and community support, the most important suicide prevention resource for teens and young adults is access to treatment for mental health and co-occurring disorders.
Newport Healthcare uses an evidence-based clinical model of care that focuses on healing the trauma at the root of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and other mental health issues. In addition, young people gain skills in problem solving and conflict resolution, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and build executive functioning, resilience, and emotional self-regulation.
Contact our Admissions experts to learn more about how Newport Healthcare can serve as a resource for you, your family, or your clients. We are dedicated to doing our part in the suicide prevention movement by providing the highest-quality care for children, teens, and young adults—so they can move forward with confidence and resilience into the next chapter of their story.
