A nationwide spike in adolescent -health problems and suicides is hitting home on Long Island — and local school districts are scrambling to respond. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is now the second-leading cause of death for people ages 10–24, and more than 40% of high-school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
Across Suffolk County, districts such as William Floyd School District and Patchogue-Medford School District are expanding mental-health supports — from in-school counselors to community-based crisis centers. Many districts report higher numbers of students seeking help following the pandemic years, social-media pressures, and family instability.
At William Floyd, a newly launched partnership with Northwell Health aims to deliver urgent or same-day mental-health care for students ages 5–18, even for those who don’t require hospital care. The program offers short-term crisis care, clinical evaluations, follow-up visits, and referrals to ongoing community treatment, giving families access to services that traditionally required lengthy waits.
Patchogue-Medford is also trying a novel approach: moving some high-school students from its specialized Raider Academy back into its middle-school program to help those struggling with anxiety and mental-health issues reintegrate more gently. District officials said the goal is to provide a quieter, more supportive setting for teens who are not ready to return to the larger high-school environment.
Still, demand vastly outpaces supply. A December 2022 report by Long Island mental-health providers noted that depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior among teenagers have surged, just as the number of qualified therapists, social workers, and school psychologists remains critically low. Several Suffolk districts report weeks-long wait times for community appointments.
If you or someone you know needs help, visit the William Floyd or Patchogue-Medford school-district websites for local resources or call the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.