Dear Next President,

It is imperative for the progression of our nation that you acknowledge mental health issues, everyday stresses of young Americans, and the increasing suicide rates in the 10-24 age group. Today’s young people are weighed down by immense amounts of stress, including, college poverty, maintaining grades, piling debt from student loans, and the fear of not finding sufficient employment as an adult. Dealing with all of these hardships, while dealing with personal issues, is taxing on a person’s mental health. According to the CDC report, Mental Illness Surveillance Among U.S. Adults, approximately 25% of adults in the United States have mental illness. All of this stress leads to young people being completely overwhelmed and resort to taking their lives. The CDC reports that suicide is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. for ages 10-24. Ignoring and not talking about mental illness and suicide creates a surrounding stigma and decreases the chances for a struggling person to confess to their suicidal thoughts and seek help. However, simply starting conversation will not be a large enough step for the leader of the free world. My suggestions to you are that you require mental health education in high school, the same way that American History is a required class for high school. Thank you very much for reading my concerns and taking my suggestions into consideration.

Sincerely,

A stressed American citizen aged 10-24.

Works Cited

"Suicide Prevention." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Mar. 2015. Web. 29 Sept. 2016. <http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/youth_suicide.html>.

"Suicide: Risk and Protective Factors." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Aug. 2016. Web. 04 Oct. 2016.