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Suicide Rate Rises, Even Higher Among Teens

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The nation's suicide rate is up 33 percent from 1999 to 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But among teens, the number is even higher. The suicide rate among whites increased 70 percent from 2006 to 2016 and, although African-Americans die by suicide less often, the rate of increase among blacks was higher, at 77 percent.

Locally, an eighth-grade boy from Walnut Hills High School died by suicide in February of this year, and in 2017, 8-year-old Gabriel Taye's suicide also shocked the Cincinnati Public Schools community. The Mason City School District has also struggled with a number of student suicides in recent years. Eighth and ninth graders are now learning about the warning signs in their health classes.

Joining Cincinnati Edition to discuss suicide prevention strategies areCincinnati Public SchoolsSchool Culture and Safety Manager Dr. Carrie Bunger; Mason City SchoolsPublic Information Officer Tracey Carson; University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Sciences School of Social Work Assistant Professor Dr. Jennifer Wright-Berryman; and Talbert HouseCommunity Care Associate Director Alexander Rulon.

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Michael Monks brings a broad range of experience to WVXU-FM as the host of Cincinnati Edition, Cincinnati Public Radio's weekday news and information talk show.