This article examines teen suicide rates in Tennessee, based on the latest data available. Every parent wants to believe their child is safe, happy, and hopeful about the future. But the reality can be sobering. Tennessee is facing a potential youth mental health crisis, and suicide is now one of the leading causes of death among children and teens in the Volunteer State.
The 2024 State of the Child in Tennessee report, released by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY), highlights troubling trends that every parent of a teen or pre-teen needs to understand. The report shows rising suicide rates and highlights that many young people signal distress long before a crisis.
Parents can play a vital role by recognizing warning signs like withdrawal, hopelessness, or self-harm, fostering open conversations, and ensuring safe storage of firearms and medications. While not every disclosure of suicidal thoughts warrants a hospital stay or a visit to a therapist, evidence-based assessments, like the evaluations Embrace U provides, help providers match the right level of care to the child’s needs. With compassion, early intervention, and access to resources, parents can help their children find hope and healing.
A Mental Health Program for Teens and Pre-teens that works
Embrace U has become one of Tennessee’s most successful mental health programs for adolescents (ages 10 to 18). We currently have locations across the state, that help families learn the coping and communication skills to effectively manage depression, anxiety, school avoidance, mood disorders, and suicidal thoughts. Participants who complete our intensive outpatient programs typically experience a 44% reduction in symptoms of depression, a 57% reduction in symptoms of PTSD, a 46% reduction in suicidality, and a near 100% reduction in social anxiety symptoms.
Learn more by contacting us using this quick form or calling 833-733-4325.
The Numbers Parents Can’t Ignore
Between 2019 and 2022, Tennessee lost 146 children ages 9–17 to suicide. The methods were often tragically lethal:
- 51% died by firearm
- 40% by suffocation (including hanging)
- 7% by poisoning
During this same period, Tennessee’s youth suicide rate rose from 4.1 to 4.9 per 100,000 — even as national rates remained steady.
Other findings include:
- Tennessee ranks 15th highest in the nation for youth suicides (ages 9–17).
- Tennessee has the 5th highest rate of firearm suicides among this age group.
- Children here are more likely to die by firearm suicide than their peers nationwide (2.4 vs. 1.9 per 100,000).
- Among young adults ages 18–24, Tennessee’s firearm suicide rate is also significantly higher than the U.S. average (12.4 vs. 8.8 per 100,000).
- More than 1 in 4 Tennessee high school students reported experiencing poor mental health most of the time.
- 55% of high school girls and 30% of high school boys said they felt sad or hopeless almost every day for at a period lasting at least two weeks — a 50% increase since 2013.
- 1 in 4 students admitted to intentionally hurting themselves (such as cutting or burning) without wanting to die. Among girls, this was nearly 39%.
- Alarmingly, 1 in 3 students who attempted suicide said they had reached out for help beforehand to a doctor, counselor, or hotline.
These numbers tell us something important: our kids often signal distress, but the warning signs may be overlooked, dismissed, or misunderstood.
Teen Suicide Warning Signs Are Easy to Miss
The statistics also show that many teens are struggling long before a crisis point. Suicide warning signs are often overlooked because they can be subtle, inconsistent, or easily mistaken for typical teenage behavior.
For example, changes in sleep, irritability, or withdrawal from family and friends might be dismissed as “just part of adolescence” rather than signs of deeper distress. Many teens also hide their struggles out of fear, shame, or a desire not to burden their parents, which means caregivers may not realize how serious the situation has become. In some cases, young people even reach out indirectly through comments, behaviors, or self-harm, but adults may not recognize these as cries for help. This is why it’s so important for parents to pay close attention, trust their instincts, and err on the side of caution when they notice concerning changes.
Understanding Risk Factors
Most children and adolescents who attempt suicide are struggling with an underlying mental health disorder, often depression. Other risk factors include:
- Family history of suicide attempts
- Exposure to violence or bullying
- Impulsivity or aggressive behavior
- Access to firearms
- Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
- Acute loss or rejection
Younger children may act impulsively when overwhelmed by sadness or anger, while teens may feel crushed by stress, self-doubt, or pressure to succeed. For some, suicide may appear to be the only solution.
What Parents Can Do Right Now
The statistics are heavy — but they don’t have to define your child’s future. Parents can take proactive steps to protect and support their teen’s mental health:
1. Watch for warning signs
- Sudden withdrawal from friends or activities
- Noticeable changes in sleep, eating, or grades
- Talking about hopelessness or being a burden
- Preoccupation with death or giving away possessions
- Physical complaints (stomachaches, headaches, fatigue) without clear medical cause
- Visible signs of self-harm (cuts, burns, covering arms/legs in warm weather)
2. Start the conversation early
Don’t wait until a crisis. Normalize talking about stress, sadness, and mental health. Asking direct questions such as:
- “Are you feeling sad or depressed?”
- “Are you thinking about hurting or killing yourself?”
These questions do not put ideas into a child’s head — they show you care and open the door for conversation.
3. Remove access to lethal means
Given Tennessee’s high firearm suicide rates, safe storage of guns and medications is critical. Research shows that limiting access to lethal means saves lives.
4. Seek help — and don’t stop asking
If your child is struggling, the most important step is to reach out for help, whether that’s to a school counselor, pediatrician, or licensed mental health provider. Here’s a list of resources to try in Tennessee:
- Primary Care Providers & Pediatricians – Often the first point of contact, your child’s doctor can screen for mental health concerns, prescribe initial treatment if needed, and connect you with specialists.
- School Counselors & Psychologists – Many schools have trained staff who can provide support, help monitor your child’s wellbeing, and connect families with community resources.
- Community Mental Health Centers & Private Therapists – Local clinics, group practices, and counseling centers offer therapy, psychiatry, and family support.
- With clinics across Tennessee,Embrace U offers two levels of care for teens and pre-teens who are experiencing a mental health challenge.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)– patients come a minimum of three days per week for group and individual therapy, medication management and assessment.
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)– patients come five days a week for group and individual therapy, medication management, assessment and family counseling.
- With clinics across Tennessee,Embrace U offers two levels of care for teens and pre-teens who are experiencing a mental health challenge.
- Telehealth Services – Virtual therapy and psychiatry appointments can remove barriers like travel time or provider shortages, making it easier to access care.
- Hospitals & Crisis Centers – If your child is at immediate risk, go to your nearest emergency department or call a crisis center for urgent evaluation and support.
Sometimes families encounter barriers such as long waitlists, limited availability in their community, or confusion about where to start. In these moments, persistence is key. Keep calling, ask to be placed on cancellation lists, and explore multiple avenues of support, including community programs, faith-based organizations, or telehealth options. If one door closes, keep knocking on another.
It can feel discouraging when care is difficult to access, but your persistence sends a powerful message to your child: their wellbeing is worth fighting for. By continuing to advocate, you increase the chance of finding the right provider and the right level of care, which can make all the difference in your child’s recovery.
5. National mental health resources
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988
- Crisis Text Line – Text “HELLO” to 741741
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Mental Health America
- Child Mind Institute
How Clinicians Assess Suicide Risk
It may help parents to understand what happens if their child is screened for suicide risk in a doctor’s office or clinic. Clinicians use evidence-based assessment tools designed to determine next steps, not just to identify risk.
Commonly used tools include:
- Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
- Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Brief Suicide Safety Assessment
- Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T)
These tools help providers decide whether it’s safe for a child to go home, whether they need closer monitoring, or whether immediate intervention is required.
Important for parents to know:
- Not every disclosure of suicidal thoughts means hospitalization. Many youth who think about suicide are not at imminent risk and can be safely supported at home with the right resources.
- Over-responding can sometimes feel punitive to the child (for example, automatically sending them to the ER, stripping belongings, and putting them under observation). While necessary for acute cases, this level of intervention is not always appropriate and can even discourage kids from seeking help in the future.
- The best approach is matching the level of care to the level of risk, while ensuring every child and family is connected with resources like 988.
A Message of Hope
Most teens and pre-teens who face risk factors for suicide will not attempt suicide, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Parents should take threats of suicide as a cry for help, and always take feelings, thoughts and behaviors around someone ending their own life seriously.
Family and friends are often the first to recognize the warning signs of suicide, and they can take the first step toward helping a child find mental health treatment. If a teen or pre-teen tells you that they are going to kill themselves, do not leave them alone. Do not promise that you will keep their suicidal thoughts a secret. Tell a trusted friend, family member, or other trusted adult. Call 911 if there is an immediate life-threatening situation. Depression and suicidal feelings are treatable conditions. With compassion, open conversations, and timely care, parents can help their children see hope again.
Parents, you play the most important role. By staying alert, fostering open communication, and connecting with your child to help when needed, you can be the lifeline your teen desperately needs.
