De Blasio says city 'very concerned' after 3 student suicides in 3 weeks: 'Many kids are feeling really isolated'
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Three New York City public school students have reportedly died from suicide over the past three weeks, a crisis that Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city is "very concerned" about as it works to reopen more schools to in-person learning amid the pandemic.
A total of five students have now lost their lives to suicide in 2021, according to the New York Post, which cited the Department of Education. In 2020, four students died by suicide.
"We've seen several suicides in recent weeks of public school kids," de Blasio said at his daily briefing Wednesday. "That is very, very painful. And I'm speaking now not only as mayor but as a parent."
De Blasio said the pandemic has left students feeling isolated and that the city must reopen more schools for in-person learning "as quickly as possible."
"The fact that these kids have gone through this crisis, the trauma they've felt," de Blasio said. "Many kids have lost loved ones. Many kids are feeling really isolated in the absence of the regular rhythms of their life, particularly the absence of school for some of them."
In-person learning returned to elementary schools in December. It resumes at middle schools next week, though not all of the schools will offer in-person learning full time to start. De Blasio said officials want to "get on with the work of bringing back high school" as well.
"I am hopeful that the health care situation improves enough that we can do another opt-in period later on in this school year, and then most especially in September, we have to come back 100% in-person strong," the mayor said.
De Blasio said every school under the administration now has mental health services available.
"We're trying to make sure that guidance counselors, social workers, principals, everyone's thinking about if there's a child with a mental health need that we're speeding those services and support to them right now," he said.
"But it's really not easy when kids are not in-person, and that's what's causing so much of the problem here, and it's painful," de Blasio said. "We really are trying to help every child. But the best thing we can do is just get more and more kids back into school as quickly as possible."
If you or someone you know needs help call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting 'Home' to 741741.
You can also text "WELL" to 65173, call 1-888-NYC-WELL (692-9355), or chat now. More information about NYC-Well can be found here at nyc.gov.
