Suicide among young people is steadily on the rise. Sadly enough, suicide is the second leading cause of death for children, adolescents, and young adults age 5-to-24-year-olds.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, reliable scientific research has Found that there are 25 attempted suicides to one completed suicide — with the ratio even higher in youth. 

My daughter Jada, age 12, was once a happy, vibrant child....a happy-go-lucky joyful child with a smile that will light up any room. She was once an A honor roll student, involved in sports, and highly ambitious.

Up until about fall of last year, all of this changed. I noticed her lack of interest in everything in most things that once brought her joy.   I assumed it was typical adolescence behavior until one day in October of 2018, I received a phone call that changed our family’s lives forever.

Jada’s school counselor called to inform me  and Jada made an outcry to her volleyball coach. Jada shared with her coach that she has been cutting herself. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I immediately left work, picked her up, and took Jada to her pediatrician to seek help and advice. Her doctor wanted to see the area where she had been cutting. She reluctantly lifted her sleeve and slowly revealed that she had over 50 cuts from her wrist all the way to her inner elbow. She shared that she had thoughts of suicide and even ideas of how she would do it. It took everything in me to night break down in that moment. But I remained strong. I had to. My daughter was in so much emotional pain. And I was completely blinded. I felt like I failed her because ‘why didn’t I didn’t I pay more attention? Where did I go wrong? What is causing her so much pain? Did something happen to her?’

The next step was to admit her into a treatment facility. She was there for 3 days. Her doctor prescribed medication. After her release, she seemed to be getting better. But unfortunately after about a month, her behavior started to change again. Medication wasn’t helping as it once did. I had difficulties finding a psychiatrist that was accepting new patients and the behavioral treatment facility said they wouldn’t prescribed her meds because Jada was no longer under their care.

In January 2019, Jada attempted suicide by hanging herself. Fortunately, I went to her room to find her before it was too late. At the time I walked in, I didn’t even know that she attempted to commit suicide because her room was dark and she was in her closet. When I turned on the lights, she was in closet area kneeled down crying.  I didn’t find that that she attempted until I had her admitted again. I took her to a different treatment facility. This treatment center was much better than the last by far. She was diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder. After her discharge, Jada improved so much but it didn’t end there.  On March 3, Jada was admitted again for suicidal ideation and wanting to self-harm. 

I am reaching out to you because the financial costs is beyond my means. Three treatment facilities and monthly medication has left me in debt. My health insurance plan requires me to meet an extremely, unrealistic out of pocket cost. Even with the deductible,  I’m in $6k of debt. I keep getting more medical bills in the mail from doctors that serviced her while in the treatment facility, which is separate. As a single parent of two, I can’t do this alone. My children’s estranged father doesn’t pay child support and has no part in their lives. And you would think that I’d  have great health coverage as a teacher that I would be able to make ends meet. But I can’t. 

And so I humbly ask and reach out to you today because I need help to pay for medical bills and medication that my daughter needs. Her life is worth it.