How the AAP Drives Youth Suicide Prevention Nationwide

Our society loves to romanticize childhood as a carefree time. Ideally, children can focus solely on the important work of growing up. Pediatricians know, however, that’s not the reality for many kids. 

Rates of mental health concerns for children and young adults have been steadily increasing since 2010. During the pandemic, they reached full-on crisis levels. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in the U.S. among teens and young adults ages 15-24. Pediatricians have found themselves on the front lines of the crisis, helping children navigate mental health challenges at an unprecedented scale. 

The Academy has a unique advantage for tackling its strategic priorities: its network of more than 60 chapters spread across all 50 states and Canada. This network enables the AAP to reach children everywhere with proven approaches to saving lives. 

Five AAP chapters received grants from the Friends of Children Fund to launch their innovative plans for suicide prevention. The chapters focused on a few key strategies: reducing access to firearms and increasing access to mental and behavioral health support, while training pediatricians to advocate for state-level investment in youth suicide prevention. Here’s a closer look at what they accomplished. 

Florida AAP: A Day of Advocacy 

Children’s Day is an annual event at the capitol building in Tallahassee dedicated to child welfare. About 40 pediatricians and pediatric trainees seized the opportunity to meet with lawmakers and interact with kids and families to raise awareness for suicide prevention. 

Prior to the event, chapter members participated in a training session that prepared them for meeting with officials about safe gun storage and increased access to affordable mental health care. Out in the courtyard, they shared suicide prevention and mental health resources with kids and families. In all, they participated in 20 meetings with legislators and reached more than 3,000 attendees. 

Hawaii AAP: Help is a Phone Call Away 

Counseling pediatric patients experiencing suicidal ideation requires nuance. Members of the Hawaii AAP chapter are supporting physicians through the process with a “warm line” to call when caring for children who need psychiatric support. 

The chapter worked with government agencies as well as the University of Hawaii to make the warm line a reality. Beyond developing this free resource, the chapter trained 14 residents, pediatricians, and child health advocates on how to testify in the state legislature. The group then advocated at the Hawaii state capital for increased funding for suicide prevention programs. 

Montana AAP: Culturally Aware Support 

Montana has the third highest rate of suicide in the U.S., with the native population at highest risk. To address the crisis head-on, the Montana chapter forged new partnerships with tribal communities. 

The chapter hosted three webinars, one of which included a presentation by a tribal member of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. More broadly, the chapter reached parents about the importance of secure firearm storage through a series of six social media posts, which got 1,753 impressions, and brochures published in Spanish and English. Finally, it hired a legislative advocacy consultant to teach lawmakers about the importance of safe storage laws in preventing children from accessing firearms. 

Pennsylvania AAP: Talking Points that Work 

The right words are key when speaking with parents and legislators alike about safe firearm storage. The Pennsylvania chapter supplied physicians with tried-and-true messaging through a Firearm Safety Toolkit that included talking points and other resources. 

The toolkit was part of a holistic effort that included a safe storage campaign, which the chapter organized with several statewide physician organizations; handouts for state legislative offices; an advocacy push facilitated by legislative engagement software; and a webinar attended by more than 175 physicians. 

Tennessee AAP: Building a Network 

The most powerful advocacy combines boots-on-the-ground activism with systemic change. 

The Tennessee chapter hosted six lunch-and-learn events for educators, local lawmakers, and community leaders about storing firearms safely. More than a hundred people attended and received resource bags that included gun locks and educational materials to share within their communities. The chapter also engaged stakeholders on the importance of advocating for stronger state gun laws.   

The education and advocacy of these chapters showcases the beauty of the AAP: The work doesn’t just help one child. Across the country and around the world, our network of pediatricians impacts millions of lives.