(STATE COLLEGE, PENN.) What comes to mind when you think about preventing teen suicide? Crisis hotlines, maybe. Emergency interventions. Those matter – but prevention often starts earlier, in everyday relationships at home, school and in the community. A parent asking about a teenager’s day over dinner, for instance. Or a teacher helping a student find purpose in what they’re learning. Or even neighbors cheering on teens at a Friday night game.
These moments may seem ordinary, but our research suggests they play a bigger role in protecting teens from suicide than most realize.
We are researchers from Penn State. One of us is a social epidemiologist who studies the social and structural determinants of health, and the other is a prevention scientist who studies risk and protective factors among young people.
Together, we analyzed data from more than 190,000 Pennsylvania adolescents who participated in the Pennsylvania Youth Survey. The survey was sent to students in grades 6-12 in 2023, capturing 52.3% of all eligible students in Pennsylvania. It is an anonymous survey administered every other year to assess students’ experiences with family, school and community, as well as mental health, substance use, violence and suicide risk.
We found that teens who felt connected to family, school and community – and were recognized for their positive behaviors – were less likely to report suicidal thoughts, plans, attempts and related injuries.
Suicidal thoughts are common among teens
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among American adolescents after accidents and homicide. Suicidal thoughts among teens are more widespread.
In our study, 16% of the adolescents reported seriously considering suicide, 13% had made a suicide plan, 5% had attempted suicide, and 1% reported an attempt that resulted in an injury that required medical treatment.
Depression, substance use and being bullied are well-established risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Our study confirmed that these experiences are strongly associated with greater suicide risk.
But what protects teens from suicide? To find out, we examined whether strong family, school and community relationships were linked to lower suicide risk.
Why relationships matter
Our analysis focused on two ideas. The first was social bonds, which is the feeling of being connected to family, committed to school and attached to one’s community. The second was social recognition, the feeling that positive behavior is noticed, appreciated and encouraged by parents, teachers, coaches or neighbors.
Social bonds and social recognition reflect whether adolescents feel that they belong and that they matter.
We found that teens who felt more connected to the people around them were less likely to report suicidal thoughts and behaviors, depression, being bullied and substance use. Family relationships showed the strongest protective effect, and school connectedness also served as a preventive measure. For example, teens who scored just one point higher on family attachment – feeling closer to their parents or caregivers, sharing their thoughts and feelings with them, doing fun things together, or feeling they could turn to them for help – were about 18% less likely to consider suicide than teens with low family attachment.
Rural teens generally faced higher suicide risk and reported fewer protective relationships overall. We found that rural teens had about a 15% higher probability of making a suicide plan and a 17% higher probability of attempting suicide than their urban peers. But they were also more likely to feel recognized and valued within their communities.
Small actions can have lasting effects
Our findings suggest that many opportunities for suicide prevention occur during ordinary daily interactions.
Families can make time for open and honest conversations with their teens, recognize teenagers’ efforts instead of focusing only on their achievements, and encouraging them to ask for help. These actions help teens feel supported and valued.
Schools play a central role in adolescents’ daily lives and their social and emotional development. They can strengthen a student’s sense of belonging by helping them build a relationship with at least one trusted teacher, creating opportunities for supportive friendships, and encouraging participation in clubs, sports and other activities. Schools also help cultivate social and emotional skills such as communication, empathy and problem-solving.
Data can help schools understand where to focus their prevention efforts. Many states collect statewide data on youth health and well-being, allowing schools and communities to track trends in teens’ health and better understand the protective factors in their communities. For example, the Pennsylvania Youth Survey, used in our study, includes an online data dashboard that helps schools identify strengths, recognize gaps and use local data to guide prevention efforts and evaluate their impact over time.
Communities also play an important role. When adults outside the family notice teens’ efforts, encourage them and recognize their positive contributions, they send an important message: You are seen and you matter. These connections can grow through sports teams, volunteer organizations, faith communities and neighborhood activities. They help adolescents feel that they belong to something larger than themselves.
Supportive relationships may be especially important in rural communities, where adolescents experience higher suicide rates while also facing greater barriers to mental health services, lower rates of screening and treatment, and greater availability to firearms.
We believe that expanding access to mental health care remains essential. But our findings suggest that families, schools and communities can also make a difference simply by creating everyday opportunities for young people to feel recognized, valued and connected. Responding quickly when a teenager is in crisis remains essential, but suicide prevention does not begin there. Prevention can be small interactions that build a sense of belonging and hope long before a crisis occurs.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by call or text, or via chat at 988lifeline.org.
Read more of our stories about Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania.
This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Xue Zhang, Penn State and Jonathan Wright, Penn State
Read more:
- Teachers and librarians are among those least likely to die by suicide − public health researchers offer insights on what this means for other professions
- Surgeon general’s call for warning labels on social media underscores concerns for teen mental health
- Nearly a third of Pennsylvania gamblers are at risk of problem gambling − but few seek treatment
Jonathan Wright receives funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for the administration of the Pennsylvania Youth Survey.
Xue Zhang does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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