It’s Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Month. Here’s a rundown of the state of youth mental health in Tippecanoe County and beyond.

In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) of youths experienced poor mental health and more than 1 in 5 (22%) of youths considered serious self-harm. Tragically, these numbers are quickly increasing. Young adults and children across the nation, including young Hoosiers, are experiencing a mental health crisis. Most feel a sense of intense hopelessness due to the world around them. Of course, there’s a lot for youth to be distressed about right now. To name a few: we’re still sorting through the lasting effects of the pandemic, we’re in a period of economic decline and social inequality is on the rise. It’s more than academic stress that’s causing the spike in youth mental health challenges. 

Even though there’s a crisis, there's a shortage of professionals who provide mental health care. In 2022, 47% of the U.S. population was affected by the mental health provider shortage. There are multiple reasons for the provider shortage, but there’s a bottom line - it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find support. With professional help difficult to find, many teens have turned to self-medication. Medications that promise to ease psychological pain are becoming readily available through social media and other unprotected sources. Drugs like Adderall, Ritalin, Oxycodone, and Xanax are being bought and sold online. Due to an unregulated market, harmful chemicals – like fentanyl – can be mixed with online drugs and lead to overdose. It’s not just fentanyl that’s becoming an issue; it’s also the dangerous mixture of fentanyl and xylazine. Called the ‘Zombie drug’, xylazine is a veterinary tranquilizer that causes a debilitating sedation. Crafted to look like prescription medications, these laced pills are indistinguishable from the real thing. Many individuals buy these drugs online – to remedy personal problems – instead of getting them safely prescribed. 

Last Friday at Purdue, Dr. Rahul Gupta- The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director- discussed this growing issue. He explained the increase in youth self-medication and its link to overdose. Due to laced drugs, there's been a dramatic increase in overdose deaths among ages 14 to 18. Even the West Lafayette community has suffered from an increase in overdoses among young adults. A lack of access to support has increased the likelihood of teens buying from unprotected sources – putting them at risk for laced medications. At Purdue, BoilerWorx provides free Naloxone and administration training. It’s essential that residents know how to use it since Naloxone rapidly reverses the effects of opioid overdose.

In response to the mental health care crisis, Tippecanoe County has made significant strides in expanding mental health support. The National Alliance on Mental Health of West Central Indiana (NAMI) opened its first Living Room space in Lafayette. The Living Room is a space where individuals experiencing a mental health crisis can talk with someone face to face. Anyone over the age of 18 can schedule an appointment from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Including NAMI, Lafayette’s Mental Health America-Wabash Valley Region is one of the three National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Centers in the state. Purdue University has finally responded to calls for better student support. The university has Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), but their reputation has soured from being constantly understaffed and underfunded. When students returned to campus this fall, President Mung Chiang announced plans to improve student well-being. Additional funding for campus psychological services will increase staff and elevate their expertise. Change is happening, and I plan to maintain the momentum in the 2024 session.

If you are struggling, please know that you’re not alone. Remember that feeling this way does not make you weak, it does not mean you’re broken and you are not a burden. There are people and resources out there to offer support and care for you. Locations you can visit or call if you need assistance in Tippecanoe County include Valley Oaks Health, Mental Health America- Wabash Valley Region, NAMI, Meridian Health, Riverbend Health Sycamore Springs, and Telehealth. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can dial 9-8-8 to connect with a trained responder. Just because you’re struggling inside yourself does not mean you can, should or need to fight it alone.