The Power of Mentoring in Suicide Prevention

            Today, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day.  It’s a good time to reflect on the role that mentoring can play in addressing the problem.  According to the CDC, young people under the age of 25 have the lowest rates of suicide overall, but suicide is the second leading cause of death for young teens.  Even more alarming, a high number of young people experience persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness and seriously consider suicide. 

            There are a number of things that can help these depression symptoms, such as therapy or even sports and getting a lot of sleep.  The single most important factor that Plan B parents or youth organizations can control is to find or be a mentor in a child’s life.  Plan B parents, by definition, are perfectly placed to be strong mentors in a child’s life.  Youth organizations also can tap into the power of good mentoring to help the children in our care. More than one study has shown that the most consistent factor among young adults who have demonstrated resilience after childhood trauma is having encouragement from family or mentors.

            Mentoring can encourage resilience and provide connection in ways that formal therapy alone sometimes can’t match.  At its core, suicide prevention hinges on early detection and intervention, and mentors are uniquely positioned to spot warning signs because they develop ongoing, non-judgmental bonds with youth. A report from Big Brothers Big Sisters found that children and teens who participated in a mentoring program showed “notable reductions in depression symptoms.” A 2021 study found significant associations between mentoring relationships and lower incidents of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. A smaller 2019 study showed the same effect.

            In fact, there is stronger data for the benefits of mentoring than for other suicide prevention programs.  That doesn’t mean that youth organizations shouldn’t try one of those other programs.  It simply means that mentoring should be a strong adjunct to any such program.  Adult mentoring programs show the strongest effect, but even peer-mentoring programs have been associated with enhanced resilience in teens and young adults.

            Youth suicide is a heartbreaking challenge, but mentoring offers a beacon of hope by creating connections that save lives. Using the power of mentoring, we can build resilient communities where every young person knows they’re not alone, turning potential tragedies into stories of strength.