KC crisis program shows promise as MO youth suicide rate spikes
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As suicide rates increase across the nation, mental health services in Kansas City are expanding to treat more patients and intervene during crises.
The big picture: Suicides among young adults in Missouri have surged faster than national trends, per data from the CDC — even as the numbers appear to be decreasing in KCMO.
- A majority of those young adults had a diagnosed mental health condition, but only about 20% were undergoing treatment, according to the most recent data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Zoom out: Suicide is the No. 2 cause of death among Missourians ages 19-24. It's No. 3 for youth 18 and younger, DHSS states.
- Rates are especially high among young veterans, per Missouri Suicide Prevention Network.
By the numbers: The suicide rate for U.S. adults aged 18-27 increased nearly 20% between 2014 and 2024, rising from 13.8 per 100,000 people to 16.4, per a new analysis of CDC data from Stateline, a nonprofit newsroom.
- Missouri's rate increased 33.5%, now 21.1 per 100,000.
Zoom in: Young adult suicides in Kansas City have fluctuated over the past decade, with a high of 20 in 2016, according to city data. That number reached a low of six in 2022 before jumping back up to 13 in 2023.
State of play: A $300 million state mental health facility is planned for KCMO's historic Northeast neighborhood after Mayor Quinton Lucas signed an official land transfer to the state in July.
- The project, expected to finish in 2028, would more than triple Missouri's mental health patient capacity in Kansas City, FOX4 reports.
Plus, the city in December piloted the REACH program, a mobile team that responds directly when someone is in crisis, to increase support for people who need care while decreasing reliance on law enforcement during mental health emergencies.
- Program director Cindy Williams says they've already provided social services and referrals to 400 people and enrolled 75 as clients, who get a dedicated case manager.
What they're saying: "These efforts have shown promise," Kansas City spokesperson Sherae Honeycutt tells Axios. "We are seeing more people connected to services and more organizations equipped to respond to mental health needs."
Between the lines: The Trump administration's spending cuts from earlier this year included more than $7 million from Missouri's mental health grant funding, The Beacon reported.
- Honeycutt tells Axios the city is not solely reliant on federal dollars and did not lose mental health funding.
What we're watching: REACH's initial phase responds only to needs along an 18-block corridor of Prospect Avenue.
- The hiring of six new staff members could allow it to expand.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Ayuda disponible en español.