FACTS & QUOTES
“Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities.”
- (CDC) Centers for Disease and Prevention
“Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34 and was responsible for over 49,000 deaths in the United States.”
– (NIMH) National Institute of Mental Health
“The troubling increase in suicides requires immediate action across our society to address the staggering loss of life from tragedies that are preventable,”
-CDC’s Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry, M.D., M.P.H.
“Mental health has become the defining public health and societal challenge of our time. Far too many people and their families are suffering and feeling alone.”
- U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., M.B.A.
STAND WITH THE NEXT GENERATION
March 2020 left countless young people isolated and unheard. Strong connections save lives and you can be the difference.Join our community to support youth mental health and stand with the next generation.
Sign up today and turn isolation into hope.
info@socialdisruption.com
Worldwide, suicide is consistently one of the leading causes of death among people aged 15–29 and is a significant cause for ages 10–14, though reported rates vary by region.
- (WHO) World Health Organization
Real quotes from young students in the U.S. about how COVID-19 lockdowns, remote school, and isolation affected them emotionally, mentally, and socially. These come from interviews, student journals, and firsthand reflections documented during and after the pandemic.
“If I released 1,000 balloons with the message for help tied to them, would anyone notice? Or would they drift back down, proving nobody is listening? - 13-year old Student
“I sometimes feel like I’m trapped in my own mind.” - Teen expressing how isolation made mental health struggles feel intensified. PBS
“I feel like I was suffocating.” — 15-year-old student describing the emotional weight of isolation during remote school. Mental Health Association in NYS, Inc.
“Everything is stagnant now, there’s nothing to look forward to.” — High school student on the repetitive cycle of Zoom classes and lack of social life. Mental Health Association in NYS, Inc.
“We were balloons and now we lie deflated, stuck on the ground.” — young child’s metaphor for how pandemic life drained joy and motivation. WBUR
“It’s sad and somewhat lonely.” — Student describing loneliness in the virtual school environment. Mental Health Association in NYS, Inc.
“I think the primary thing was the isolation. There was no one to catch me from spiraling.” — Student reflecting on how isolation contributed to depression. Hawksites
“It really left me in a state of isolation.” — Student recalling how it affected her emotionally. The Washington Post
“I’m lonely, depressed, and anxious.” — College student describing intense feelings of loneliness and difficulty coping. PMC
“COVID-19 has affected my mental health tremendously, isolation was unbearable.” — college student describing the emotional toll of quarantine and loss of college experience. Her Campus
“Being confined to the same house for months, I found the isolation unbearable at times.” — teen reflecting on the strain of lockdown confinement and lack of interaction. Her Campus
If you or someone you know are seeking help, the following resources are available:
Find a Helpline https://findahelpline.com/
Befrienders Worldwide https://befrienders.org/
IFOTES https://www.ifotes.org/en
988 USA https://988lifeline.org/
LifeLine International https://lifeline-international.com/
Child Helplines International https://childhelplineinternational.org/