CDC Surveys Cleveland Schools' Suicide Rate

More than 20% of Cleveland Metropolitan School District students surveyed by the Centers for Disease Control reported having attempted suicide in 2015. Out of 19 urban school districts surveyed across the United States, Cleveland had the highest rate of attempted suicide.

Psychologist Bill Stencil helps to manage CMSD’s Social Emotional Learning Department. “I feel that it is really important that now that this has been brought to light from that data that our community is able to see and understand the things that we try to do because we do recognize the kinds of trauma that our young people are facing," says Stencil.

According to the CDC survey, more than 19% of the Cleveland students in the study seriously considered attempting suicide, about 1.5% higher than the national average. 

Stencil says poverty is the major factor contributing to these numbers.