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Iowa Youth Mental Health Fact Sheet |
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In Iowa, suicide is the second leading cause of death for 11-18 year-olds.
Almost as many teens die by suicide as those who die from all natural causes combined.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005)
From 1999 to 2005, a total of 2,240 suicide attempts made in the state of Iowa resulted in death.
150 of these deaths were children and young adults from 11 to 18 years of age.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005)
Among Iowa youth ages 12 to 17, 8% suffered an episode of Major Depression within one year.
(National Survey on Drug Use and Health Promotion, 2007)
For Iowa high school students, within a 12-month period:
- 22.1% feel sad and hopeless enough over a two-week period to halt usual activity
- 12.3% think seriously about suicide
- 9.6% make a plan for suicide
- 6.7% attempt suicide
- 1.7% make a suicide attempt that requires medical attention
(National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, 2007) Teens between the ages of 15 and 19 have the highest hospitalization rate for suicide attempts in the state.
These teens account for 16% of those hospitalized for suicide attempts in Iowa.
(Suicide Prevention Resource Center)
Additional State Information
The Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa’s Suicide Prevention Strategy Steering Committee developed the Iowa Plan for Suicide Prevention: 2005 to 2009.
To read the state’s suicide prevention plan in its entirety, visit:
http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_ia.pdf
The first local TeenScreen program in Iowa began screening in 2004.
Almost 3,000 families were offered mental health screening in 2006 through local TeenScreen programs in Iowa.
For more information about mental health care and policy in the state, contact:
Iowa Department of Human Services
Division of BDPS
1305 East Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0114
Web site: www.dhs.state.ia.us
Last Updated 07/15/2008
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