COVID-19 Pandemic Linked to Spike in Suicides and Homicides Among Youth

Homicide deaths for older teenagers increased rapidly, reaching the highest rate in nearly 25 years, according to a CDC report.
Suicide rates for young adults soared to the highest in over 50 years during the same time period.
The report found that isolation and lack of mental healthcare during COVID-19 lockdowns likely contributed to the rise in suicide rates.
Firearms were involved in over half of youth suicides and nearly all youth homicides during this time.
Suicide and homicide were the second and third leading causes of death for Americans ages 10 to 24 in 2021, surpassed only by a category including accidents like overdoses and car crashes.