6,500
Almost 6,500 teens, aged thirteen to seventeen, have reached out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in just the past year alone.
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The challenges students face are real.
These numbers are why SUN exists, and why no student should have to face them alone.
4in 10
American high school students report prolonged feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and 2 in 10 seriously consider suicide.
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- A significant portion of teens experiencing prolonged sadness or suicidal thoughts do not receive mental health treatment
- Rates of prolonged sadness and suicidal thoughts have increased over the past decade
- Many high school students who seriously consider suicide do not tell anyone about their thoughts
64%
faster: the rate at which antidepressant prescriptions for teens have risen, and 130% faster for teen girls.
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- Clinically significant anxiety and depression are life-impairing, holding the same medical weight as asthma or diabetes
- These medications block the recycling of serotonin in your brain, affecting how your brain regulates emotions
- Severe side effects can include suicidal thoughts, psychosis, seizures, agitation, and hyponatremia (a dangerous drop in blood sodium levels)
- Never start, stop, or change a medication without talking to a doctor
69%
of adolescents aged 13–19 said they felt alone in the last fortnight, and 59% feel they have no one to talk to.
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- Peer interaction becomes increasingly important during adolescence; adolescents spend more time with peers than with family and are highly influenced by peer approval or rejection
- Strong peer relationships support mental health and resilience, whereas peer rejection, bullying, and loneliness increase risk for depression and other mental health issues
- Social deprivation during adolescence can have lasting effects on brain and behavior
- Chronic isolation can impair cognitive flexibility, learning, and attention
- Isolation during adolescence produces stronger effects than isolation at other life stages
- Many adolescents use digital technologies and social media for social connection
- Face-to-face peer interaction is critical during adolescence
11
school shootings had already occurred in the U.S. in 2025 by mid-September.
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- 42 students, teachers, and staff have been injured
- Appalachee High School in Georgia
- Evergreen Hope High School in Denver (September 10), twenty miles away from the infamous Columbine High School shooting (1999), one of the deadliest school shootings in American history
- Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis (August 27)
- North Little Rock High School in Arkansas (September 12)
- SouthWest Edgecombe High School in North Carolina (September 12)
- Thurston High School in Michigan (May 07)
- Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Texas (April 15)
- Lakeland Elementary School in Washington (April 08)
- Pasadena Memorial High School in Texas (February 01)
- Antioch High School in Tennessee (January 22)
54%
of all cases processed in juvenile court in 2022 involved youth under the age of 16.
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- Youth in the juvenile court system often lack access to consistent support networks, like mentors, counselors, or safe spaces
- A significant number of these youth struggle with academic challenges, truancy, or dropping out of school
- A large portion of youth entering juvenile court deal with life circumstances beyond their control, such as poverty, family conflict, or exposure to violence
2.2million
people aged twelve to seventeen had a Substance Use Disorder in the past year.
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- In 2023, 1.86 million adolescents aged 12 to 17, or 7.2% of teens nationwide, reported using drugs in the last month
- Among teens who reported using drugs in the last month, 83.9% report using marijuana during that same period
- 442,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 years old used an illicit drug other than marijuana in the last month
- 5.4% of 8th graders have used illicit drugs in the last 30 days
- 15.1% of 8th graders have tried illicit drugs at least once
- By the time they are in 12th grade, 36.8% of teens have tried illicit drugs
- 8.90 million 18- to 25-year-olds used drugs in the last month
- 5,926 Americans aged 15 to 24 years old died of an overdose of illicit drugs in 2023
- 5.67% of overdose deaths start from individuals aged 15 years
Connection changes the numbers.
Strong peer relationships support mental health and resilience. That's what every SUN chapter is built to create.