Gun-related deaths and suicides among children in America have reached record levels, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC’s data from their WONDER database reveals that firearms have become the primary cause of death among children and teens since 2020, with the numbers steadily rising since 2018. Additionally, suicides have increased by 11 percent since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in mid-2020. In 2021, there were a shocking 11,078 suicides among children and teens – the highest number in any year since 1999. Surprisingly, gun-related deaths accounted for 19 percent of all childhood deaths in 2021, surpassing deaths caused by car accidents and cancer. The statistics show that there were 2,279 firearm homicides among children and teens aged one to 18 in 2021, which is double the number recorded a decade ago (979). In fact, 2021 had the highest number of child and teen gun deaths since 1999. Disturbingly, the data reveals that black children and teens were the most likely to be killed by firearms, with a six-fold higher risk compared to white children. While black children had a rate of 17 firearm deaths per 100,000, white children had a rate of about three, and Asian children had a rate of one per 100,000. Following black children, American Indian or Alaska natives had the second-highest likelihood of dying by firearms, with an estimated 1,300 deaths reported this year, according to CNN. The pandemic has also had a profound impact on the mental health of children, leading to a surge in suicides and homicides. School closures and lockdowns contributed to a significant increase in behavioral issues among students, as reported by a study conducted by Effective School Solutions (ESS). The study revealed that 90 percent of schools reported a rise in mental health challenges among their students, with 57 percent of principals and senior educators stating that the problem was worsening. The first year of the pandemic saw homicides becoming the leading cause of death among children, with a particular increase among black children and those living in southern states. Prior to 2020, automobile accidents held the highest fatality rate among children.
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