Mental and Behavioral Health of Youth

Youth Suicide Rates

Youth Suicide Rates
One of DCYF’s health goals is for youth to experience positive behavioral and mental health. Trends in mental health over the past decade show an increase in rates of suicide and attempted suicide. Although rates began decreasing after 2021, in 2023 the rate of youth suicide and attempted suicide was still nearly 500% higher than it was ten years prior.
Rate of Suicide and Suicide Attempts per 100,000 Adolescents Age 10-17, 2013-2023

Rate of Suicide and Suicide Attempts per 100,000 Adolescents Age 10-17, 2013-2023
Sources: Department of Health, Office of Hospital and Patient Data Systems, Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System (CHARS) and Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics Death Certificate Data, as reported by Starks, A., Sharkova, I., Leibenguth, S., & Huber, A. (2025). Community outcome & risk evaluation: Risk and protection profile for substance abuse prevention in Washington State. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Research and Data Analysis. https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/rda/riskprofiles/research-4.47-state.pdf
Notes: Suicides are based on death certificate information and attempts are based on hospital admissions, but do not include admissions to federal hospitals.
The coding of intent for injuries and poisonings in hospital admissions data underwent a transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes in the fall of 2015. It has affected the 2015 and 2016 data on suicide attempts reported here. Researchers have concluded that the marked changes in 2015 and 2016 are “almost certainly” an artifact of the coding changes rather than increases in suicidal behavior, as some cases previously coded as undetermined intent are now coded as self-harm. These coding changes do not explain increases in suicidal behavior in the years following 2016. For more information, see: Stewart, C., Crawford, P.M., & Simon, G. (2017). Changes in coding of suicide attempts or self-harm with transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10. Psychiatric Services, 68(3), 215-215. https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.201600450.
Suicide and Suicide Attempts per 100,000 Adolescents Age 10-17, 5 Year Rate, 2019-2023

Suicide and Suicide Attempts per 100,000 Adolescents Age 10-17, 5 Year Rate, 2019-2023
State Source: Department of Health, Office of Hospital and Patient Data Systems, Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System (CHARS) and Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics Death Certificate Data
Notes: Map created using data from Starks, A., Sharkova, I., Leibenguth, S., & Huber, A. (2025). Community outcome & risk evaluation: Risk and protection profile for substance abuse prevention in Washington State. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Research and Data Analysis. https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/rda/riskprofiles/research-4.47-state.pdf

Child Outcome Goal

Mental Health

Youth
Youth Depression

Youth Depression
The Healthy Youth Survey asks youth whether, over the past year, they ever felt so sad or hopeless, almost every day for two weeks or more in a row, that they stopped doing some of their usual activities. Results show that youth who live with their parents/guardians are less likely to report having been depressed than youth not living with their parents/guardians.
10th Graders Reporting Depression, by Living Situation, 2023

10th Graders Reporting Depression, by Living Situation, 2023
Source: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Health Care Authority Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, & Liquor and Cannabis Control Board (2023). Healthy Youth Survey [2023]. https://askhys.net
Notes: "Does Not Live with Parents/Guardians" includes students who live with other relatives (kinship care), who are in foster care, or who have other living situations.

Child Outcome Goal

Child Welfare

Mental Health

Youth