Content Warning: Mentions of suicide and self-harm.

“We all have our struggles and fears, but no one should fight them alone.”
– Sterling K. Brown 

Earlier this summer, while taking an early morning walk along the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, I saw a young man in his late 20s holding on to a wrought iron fence, and leaning over a 20-foot drop into the water. It was readily apparent that he was going to jump, so I walked quickly over to him.

Trying my best to be calm and steady, I pleaded with him to not do it. He said life is really hard and the voices in his head were telling him to “just end it all.” I attempted to recognize what he was going through and acknowledge that life can be difficult, while quietly convincing him that committing suicide was not the answer. We talked for about 20 minutes, and eventually, I asked him, “Will you come back over?” He said, yes, so I moved in closer and helped him climb back over the fence. At that point, Park Rangers arrived and took control of the situation. They walked away with him, and I headed off in a different direction.  

On my way back to the hotel, I stopped for a train blocking the road and had a good 15 minutes to relive the situation. Even just a few moments after this event, the whole thing felt surreal. 

We have all seen local and national statistics that show increasing numbers of people experiencing mental health struggles, and this young man proved to be a vivid example of this trend. In schools, we witness how the frequency of mental health issues among young people continues to rise, and Keystone is no exception. An increasing number of schools, colleges, and universities are devoting more resources to mental health initiatives than ever before. In fact, spending on mental health and well-being has been an area of significant growth in educational institutions across the board. In part, it was seeing these trends that led Keystone to go from one counselor to two, and devote more time and energy to wellness programming. 

According to the National Institutes of Health, “an estimated 20.9% of adolescents were reported by their parents/caregivers to need treatment or counseling from a mental health professional in the past year, regardless of a currently diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition” in 2023.  The same report says, “Between 2016 and 2023, the prevalence of diagnosed mental or behavioral health conditions among adolescents increased 35 percent (from 15.0% to 20.3%). The prevalence of diagnosed anxiety increased 61 percent (from 10.0% to 16.1%) and depression increased 45 percent (from 5.8% to 8.4%); the prevalence of diagnosed behavior/conduct problems was stable.”  Mental health issues among adolescents are increasing; destigmatizing those issues will enable us to address them sooner. 

Emphasizing psychological well-being requires coordinated and consistent effort among families, communities and institutions. On a smaller scale, it’s important for us to remember that each of us can make a small difference in our own ways. 

Too often, people feel isolated and don’t know how and where to look for help; consequently, they don’t receive the assistance they require and are left to struggle alone. There was nothing special in what I did that day; I happened to be in the right place at the right time to stop and talk to someone who just needed to be heard.    

For our young people, it’s important to know that they can have a significant impact on others when they choose to intervene and help.  Sometimes, this may require them merely to listen and encourage someone to get help. At other times, they could notify a responsible adult that their friend is in trouble and in need of help. Keystone has a system called Anonymous Alerts where students can report to a counselor their concerns for a friend’s mental health. In addition, the counselor’s offices at Keystone are readily accessible for students to check in or just to talk. 

In no way do I minimize the complexity and multi-modal causes of mental health crises. Talking to someone in of itself may not even scratch the surface of what is needed. However, we know that doing nothing will neither address nor solve the problem; if we can band together and teach our students to speak out on behalf of themselves and others, and help out when a critical situation arises, we may make a difference.  

Ms. Chanel Williams, Keystone’s Middle/Upper School Counselor, has provided a few resources on ways to address the possibility of suicide,and we include them below for your reading. They also emphasize the importance of talking and being available when someone is in need. Together, perhaps, we can make a difference.  

Suicide: What to do when someone is thinking about suicide – Mayo Clinic

My Friend Is Suicidal: What Should I Do? — NAMI Dane County

If Someone Is Thinking About Suicide #RealConvo Guide | AFSP