Maine has a killer of young people in its midst, but sadly few are willing to talk about it. Talk – and action – are needed if the state is going to reduce suicide, now the second-leading cause of death among Mainers aged 15 to 24 behind accidents.

Maine’s youth suicide rate is the highest in New England and is 49 percent higher than the national average for those between 15 and 19. Experts believe the state’s rural nature, high poverty rates and easy access to guns contribute to the problem. So does silence.

While most people can rattle off the symptoms of a heart attack, few can name the indications that someone is contemplating killing himself (self-criticism, withdrawal from family and friends, giving away possessions). That’s because there is a stigma associated with suicide and a belief that talking about suicide will lead people to try it. It does not.

One in five Maine high school students reported seriously considering suicide in the past 12 months. Of every 10 youth suicide attempts, nine are by girls. Four of every five suicides are males. Seven out of every 10 youth suicides are committed with a firearm. In recent years, Maine has had an average of 20 suicides among 15- to 24-year-olds and one to three suicides among youths under the age of 15, with about 260 hospitalizations a year for self-inflicted injuries among Maine youth.

Because the state’s overall youth suicide numbers are small, it is hard to get a sense of a regional pattern. However, it appears that the suicide rate for those between 15 and 24 is higher is the state’s more rural counties. Between 1998 and 2002, the statewide suicide rate (the number of people who committed suicide per 100,000 residents) was 12.9 for the 15-24 age group. It was 10.8 in Cumberland County and 12.2 in Penobscot County. It soared to 22.7 in Waldo County and 19.4 in Somerset County. Because of low numbers that could compromise confidentiality, no data was available from the Department of Health and Human Services for the state’s smallest eight counties.

It may be that young people in remote areas feel more disconnected from friends, family and others who could provide support during rough times. They could also have a more difficult time accessing services that are many miles away.

Given this dynamic, schools play a vital role in suicide prevention. Not only do young people spend a good part of their day here, but in small communities, schools serve as a town center. The state has rightly focused much of its suicide prevention effort in schools.

The Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program, begun in 1997, educates all school staff, including coaches and janitors, and students about suicide warning signs and helps them connect a depressed student to treatment programs. To date, only 12 schools have taken part in the program. The Maine chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill is seeking a federal grant for a program to screen schoolchildren for mental illness and suicide risk, much like children are screened for high lead levels.

These are worthwhile programs and should be supported. In the meantime, simply talking to your children or others in your neighborhood could help avoid a tragedy. Those seeking more information should call 1-800-499-0027. For help during a crisis, call 1-888-568-1112.