How You Can Help Prevent Youth Suicide and Gambling
Published: September 8, 2025
One in every five youth has seriously contemplated suicide. That sobering statistic, drawn from a recent nationwide survey of youth as young as 10 years old, is a wake-up call for us all. Ohio’s youth are experiencing considerable hardship, and everyone has a role to play in ensuring that any contributor to suicide, including risk factors like youth gambling, are included in efforts to get them help.
According to a review of academic studies by the Zero Suicide initiative, in part conducted by the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, reported rates of emergency department visits for youth suicidal thoughts and behaviors are increasing. The reported suicide rate for youth ages 10 to 19 is also growing, by a worrisome 47 percent from 2010 to 2019, and has become the second leading cause of death in that age group.
A wide variety of factors are driving the increase. In addition to social and environmental factors that many are familiar with, a new contributor is being evaluated by experts: screen time and social media. The rise in the time that youth spend on their devices has meant that young people are frequently exposed to stressors like bullying and addictive mechanics in video games, which can put them at increased risk.
That’s why having the conversations that help prevent youth gambling is vital. Not only can starting these conversations early contribute to a healthier mental environment, but they can help protect youth from adverse encounters online that they are not yet equipped to process. Parents, educators, and professionals all play a part in having those conversations and Change the Game Ohio offers a wide variety of resources to help you get started.
What You Can Do
- Know 988: The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can offer support 24/7. It’s available to youth and adults, and you can call, text, or chat at any time for free. Raising awareness about 988 is a key method of helping prevent suicide among both youth and adults.
- Have the youth gambling conversation: Gambling is unavoidable now. Regardless of your best intentions, youth will be exposed to it online, in commercials during sporting events, and out in the physical world. It’s up to adults, especially parents, to start a real conversation about what gambling is, the risks, and why it’s not suitable for youth. Check out Change the Game Ohio’s parent toolkit for conversation starters.
- Raise awareness: Preventing youth gambling and suicide can go hand-in-hand, and Change the Game Ohio is here to assist. We offer toolkits for educators and professionals that can be a supplement to other suicide prevention efforts, such as the strategies and toolkits offered by Zero Suicide and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.
Want to talk to someone about gambling specifically? Wondering what your gambling might mean for your child? You can call the free and confidential Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or text HOME to 741741. Trained and understanding specialists are ready to take your call 24/7. Additionally, the Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network now offers virtual telehealth services at no cost.