Indiana's rate of teenagers who considered suicide in the last year is the worst in the nation, and the rate of Hoosier teenagers attempting suicide is second highest in the country.
That's according to an annual report out Monday from the Indiana Youth Institute and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
The report shows nearly one in five Hoosier high school students - 19 percent - seriously considered attempting suicide in the last 12 months, and 11 percent of Indiana's teens have attempted suicide.
Bill Stanczykiewicz, president and CEO of Indiana Youth Institute says the report covers a wide variety of youth issues. He says it's important not to look at the data in isolation because many of those issues connect.
"When you look at the suicide issue, obviously mental illness is at the top of the list. It's something that experts and public health tell us is significantly under-diagnosed," Stanczykiewicz says.
Suicide prevention advocates are working to make inroads at the Statehouse, preparing lawmakers to deal with the issue.
Lisa Brattain got involved with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention about eight years ago after her son committed suicide.
Brattain says her call to action came from looking at the organized efforts to combat illnesses such as breast cancer and heart disease. She says much of her work since then has focused on building an informed community.
"[A community] that can have a healthy conversation about mental health and suicide, so that it's not stigmatized and difficult to talk about," Brattain says.
To the question of why Indiana ranks so highly, Stanczykiewicz says researchers simply don't know.
But he points out that having a relatively high amount of reported suicidal thoughts could be a sign that Brattain and others are helping.
"Oddly it could be that we're doing a better job of paying attention to this issue, and that our kids are more willing to be open about reporting this issue than other states," Stanczykiewicz says.
And while conversation among legislators surrounding the need for more mental health resources often has to do with helping treat addiction, Brattain says some of the root causes of the state's high suicide rates play into that issue.
"Because of lack of resources, or lack of supports, or inability to access insurance or the funds to pay for treatment," Brattain says.
Brattain says while her organization doesn't have legislation to promote this session, she's hoping the efforts made this year to educate lawmakers will pay dividends when there are more specific policy proposals in the near future.
In addition to suicidal thoughts and attempts, the report found 22 percent of Hoosier children live in poverty, meaning the amount of children in poverty hasn't recovered from the recession at the same rate of Indiana incomes.
"Even though the economy is getting better, poverty and child poverty are usually the last indicators to improve," Stanczykiewicz says. "Many times, that is due to issues related to family structure and economic structures."
The report says 19 percent of those children living in poverty have also been witness to domestic violence.
