Now one of the Top 10 leading causes of death in the United States, suicide has had a shocking 60 percent death toll increase in the last two decades.

It’s the third leading cause of death of Americans aged 10-14 and the second leading cause of death for those aged 15-34.

These sobering numbers do not reflect the COVID-19 pandemic which introduced new factors due to isolation requirements and limited in-person interaction.

Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation for the American Psychological Association, said the prolonged pandemic has heightened the stress factor. Unlike events such as 9/11 or hurricanes, the coronavirus pandemic isn’t limited to a specific time and place and not just something people watch on the news.

Drug overdose deaths hit record levels amid the pandemic, soaring to more than 100,000 over a 12-month period and rates of depression and anxiety also grew 5.1 percent.

More than 90 percent of people who fall victim to suicide suffer from depression, have a substance use disorder, or both; the combinations form a vicious cycle. Many who experience severe depression - stemming from bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and other conditions - frequently turn to drugs, alcohol, gambling and other risky behaviors to numb their pain and/or alleviate their negative feelings.

Although the largest increase in suicide attempts was among women, young adults between 18 and 25, unmarried people, people with less education, and people who regularly use substances, the rich and famous are not excluded. Law enforcement in Southern California last week determined that the death of Jeremy Giambi, a former Major League ballplayer who died at his parents’ home, was a suicide. Giambi was involved in one of baseball’s most iconic moments during the 2001 American League Division Series. He was the player thrown out at the plate on a remarkable hustle play and flip to home plate by Yankee great Derek Jeter.

Other notables who have died by suicide this year include Chelsie Kryst, the former Miss America who took her life at the age of 30; and “Walking Dead” actor Moses Moseley, who died at 31.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the emotional burden is falling more heavily on those who reported having been treated recently for mental or emotional issues and is disproportionately falling on the young. In a Youth Risk Behaviors Survey from 2019, 8.9 percent of youth in grades 9-12 reported that they had made at least one suicide attempt in the past 12 months.

With all of the grim statistics, one number remained the same. Year in and year out, about 40 percent of people who had recently tried suicide said they were not receiving mental health services.

Mary Giliberti, the chief public policy officer for Mental Health America, a nonprofit advocacy group, says that the pandemic’s immense emotional toll has lit a fire under Washington lawmakers and created a need for immediate action.

Despite the polarized political climate in Washington, there is hope for bipartisanship. During a recent Senate hearing, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the chairman of the influential Finance Committee, announced a goal of creating a bipartisan mental health package by this summer.

This would involve a Democrat and Republican to lead each effort in five policy areas, including bolstering mental health care among youth; shoring up the workforce; increasing coordination in the system; ensuring mental health is treated the same as physical health; and easing access to telehealth services.

These are positive steps, especially when dealing with depression in young people which often goes undiagnosed until a crisis occurs.

Note: Hotlines offering support include The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255; National Child Abuse Hotline 800-422-4453; and Veterans Crisis Line (800-273-8255).

By Jim Zbick | tneditor@tnonline.com

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.