Nathan Petree Foundation Initial Objectives

Establish systems that produce a material reduction in the number of suicides from age 15 to 19 in specific communities then duplicate systems across additional locations.

FACTS

• In Texas, Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15 to 19 year olds.
• Teenage suicide rate is increasing.
• The risk of suicide increases dramatically when teenagers have access to firearms at home. Approximately 60% of all suicides in the United States are completed with a gun.
• It is extremely important to lock up any guns in your home with no possible access by teenagers. Potentially dangerous medication should also be locked up.
• Almost as many teens die by suicide as those who die from all natural causes combined.
• Studies conclude that within a 12-month period 16% of Texas high school students seriously think about suicide, 9% attempt suicide, and 3% make a suicide attempt that requires medical attention.
• Boys and girls suicide rates are different. Girls think about and attempt suicide about twice as often as boys. Boys die by suicide about four times as often as girls because they tend to use more lethal methods, particularly firearms.