Teen suicide is a statewide issue in Louisiana. According to the Department of Health, it’s the 14th leading cause of death in the state, and the third leading cause of death for ages 10-34. A new law is now going into effect this year that requires the 988 suicide prevention hotline number on the back of student IDs. An NIH study showed females presented a higher risk of suicide attempts compared to boys, with specific risk factors including eating disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression and previous abortions. ■ ldh.la.gov

This article was originally published in August 2024.