When Kristee Haggins was a teenager, the pressure of life, school and racism nearly drove her to the breaking point. She attempted suicide and almost joined the sad ranks of Black youth who had hit their breaking point.

Those numbers are on the rise. Black youth ages 10-24 have experienced a nearly 37% increase in suicide from 2018-2021, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Suicide was the third leading cause of death among youth ages 10-24 in Sacramento County from 2010-2022. The OBSERVER analyzed county data and found that Black youth made up roughly 21% of all suicides in that age group from 2019-2024. While overall suicide rates are declining, they are increasing among Black youth, particularly among young Black men, who die by suicide at more t

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