Experts say suicides among young Black North Carolinians have been increasing over the last two decades.
State health officials hope a new action plan will help address the problem.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services developed the plan with other state and community organizations.
Sonyia Richardson, a suicide prevention researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, says addressing the problem has historically taken a one-size-fits-all approach.
“And it's not working for youth of color right now,” she says. “While the rates of suicide among white youth have been decreasing, we've seen a stark increase with the rates increasing for Black youth. So we needed more of a targeted approach to really be able to get those rates decreased as quickly as possible.”
Richardson contributed to the new NC Black Youth Suicide Prevention Action Plan. In the plan, Guilford and Forsyth are among 17 counties targeted for higher outreach based on an analysis of suicide data.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call or text 988 to reach the national suicide and crisis lifeline.