Youth suicide

In Lenawee County, on average, older children (9th–12th grade) have higher rates of experiencing mental health concerns surrounding feelings of sadness, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts (Dake & Wielinski et al., 2021). Of the surveyed 9–12th-graders, 42% have felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks in a row so that they have stopped doing usual activities in the past 12 months while 30% of the 7th graders surveyed have felt the same (Dake & Wielinski et al., 2021). Of students who participated in the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY) survey, 8% of 9th –12th-grade students and 10% of 7th-grade students reported having attempted suicide between 2019 and 2020 (See Figure 18; Dake & Wielinski et al., 2021). Dake and Wielinski emphasize that these rates should not be taken as representative of all school districts in Lenawee County as it only represents those who opted to take the survey.

The Robertson Brain Health Pilot Program is working to address these concerns amongst law enforcement officials (O’Neill, 2025). In addition, the Lenawee Intermediate School District will provide students with assistance via the iWellness platform through the FY25 State School Aid Act. This program will allow students to access support services at little to no cost (Pfund, 2025).