Trigger warning: child loss, suicide
This past Mother’s Day, I took a moment to look through the cards my children have crafted for me over the years. For many, this day is filled with joy and warmth. However, for someone who has lost a child, it serves as a painful reminder of what once was—and what can never be again.
I still cherish two handmade Mother’s Day cards from May 2012. One is from my oldest, Alex, who was seven at the time, and the other from my youngest, Noah, who was just six. Noah’s card, featuring his handprint as a flower and a note saying he loves me because “she sends me to school,” was given to me just seven months before he was taken from his first-grade classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary.
Since that tragic day, I have dedicated my life to safeguarding children from gun violence and ensuring that fewer parents have to endure the heartache I face daily. Yet, as parents and caring adults, we must be more vigilant than ever. The pandemic has exacerbated mental health struggles among youth, leading to heightened levels of depression and anxiety.
We may assume children are resilient, but the reality is that they are not okay. As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, we must recognize some of the most vulnerable members of our society: our children.
Recent studies indicate that over 70% of teenagers are grappling with mental health challenges, and one in four has contemplated suicide. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among teenagers, and it is preventable.
In the past year, the National Crisis Center’s Say Something Anonymous Reporting System has reported a significant rise in alerts regarding suicide ideation, self-harm, abuse, and bullying. Alarmingly, over 20% of these reports are classified as life-threatening.
Allowing students the space to express their feelings and fostering new social connections will be vital to their recovery as they return to school. It is essential for students, educators, and parents to recognize the warning signs of someone at risk of harming themselves or others and to understand when to seek help.
In honor of mothers everywhere, I urge everyone—parents, educators, and caring adults—to take action to support our children and secure their futures. We need to implement supportive measures now for the upcoming school year.
While my organization, the Sandy Hook Foundation, continues to make significant strides in saving children’s lives in schools nationwide, there is still much work to be done. Evidence-based suicide and violence prevention training in schools can assist students in coping with the pandemic’s impacts and ongoing mental health issues.
The STANDUP Act, recently reintroduced in the U.S. Senate, aims to make this life-saving training available to all middle and high schools across the country. Many of these programs come at no cost to school districts. Despite the political divide in Washington, the STANDUP Act received unanimous approval in the House of Representatives and has bipartisan support in the Senate.
This is an opportunity for us to act today and provide help to those who need it most: our children.
After my beloved Noah was taken from me, I was left in disbelief. As a mother, the thought of never seeing him again or hearing his joyful laughter was unimaginable. Even months later, I still found myself calling him for dinner or glancing in the rearview mirror to check his seatbelt.
We must act now before more mothers are faced with this unbearable pain. We cannot let political differences hinder our children’s access to the support they desperately need. It is time for Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to set aside differences and unite for the safety of our children.
The signs are clear: our kids need our help. As they return to classrooms, they must have more mental health resources available. Time is of the essence, and only proactive actions can safeguard our children’s futures.
Please, contact your U.S. Senators and encourage them to support the STANDUP legislation aimed at reducing youth suicide. Collaborate with your schools to ensure that robust mental health support systems are in place before the new school year begins.
Take action today to prevent more mothers from grieving over cards made by children taken from us by violence or despair.
For more insights on supporting mental health, check out this resource on infertility from Mount Sinai and explore related topics on home insemination.
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Summary:
Emily Carter shares her heart-wrenching experience of losing her son Noah at Sandy Hook and her commitment to preventing such tragedies. She highlights the alarming rise in youth mental health issues and urges parents and educators to take immediate action by supporting legislation like the STANDUP Act and increasing mental health resources in schools.