WALLOWA COUNTY — At a recent Wallowa Valley Network of Care meeting, Network of Care members reviewed the latest 2024 Student Health Survey data—and the numbers hit home.
Among local eighth graders:
19% reported they had thought about suicide.
Just over 6% reported they had attempted suicide.
These are Wallowa County numbers—not national statistics, not big-city data.
“As a parent in a small community the data shakes you at your core, when you recognize that it is real, and it is right here” Erin said.
Some might argue that suicide prevention isn’t a role of the Child Advocacy Center. Helping Hearts takes a different view.
When kids are feeling hopeless, disconnected, or unsupported, they are:
Less likely to seek help.
Less likely to disclose abuse or unsafe situations.
More vulnerable to grooming, trafficking, and other forms of exploitation.
Helping Hearts sees mental health and safety as deeply connected. That’s why staff are regular participants at Network of Care meetings and collaborate with partners on mental health and suicide prevention efforts.
The center’s message is clear: if we’re going to ask kids to tell us what’s going on in their lives, we have to do something with the information. That means facing hard numbers, having hard conversations, and building systems where young people feel seen, believed, and supported.