TYLER, Texas — East Texas is home to historic landmarks, floral landscapes and various close knit communities.
However, underneath the beautiful charm lies an alarming statistic. Out of the 25 most populous counties in Texas, Smith County ranks No. 1 in suicide rates — a truth organizations in East Texas hope to change.
Since the pandemic, 41% of Americans reported having struggles with mental health for the first time, according to the CDC.
The current suicide rate in East Texas is 40% higher than the average in Texas. To address this need, Next Step Community Solutions is aiming to improve mental health for students at nine North and East Texas school districts.
Those districts include:
- Tyler
- Athens
- Winonna
- Brownsboro
- Bullard
- Kilgore
According to the organization, "Sources of Strength" is a program that "helps students build resilience and hope and has been shown to be effective in reducing the rate of suicide attempts at middle and high schools."
Instead of focusing on the trauma and tragedy students are facing, the program, offered online or in-person, is designed to bring hope and help. Students and staff will participate in activities to help identify "positive areas in their life that students can find strength in." Students are also encouraged to build relationships with peers and adults.
As the pandemic continues - so does the need for mental health resources. This school year, those resources will be available- for some East Texas students.
If you need help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The hotline is open 24/7 and staffed by experts who will take time to care for you.