TRUMBULL COUNTY, OH - A group of students from Liberty High School were awarded after winning a new video challenge on a serious topic.

The Trumbull County Suicide Prevention Coalition created the "Sound the Siren" video challenge to help Trumbull County students raise the alarm on mental health issues.

The number of teens dying by suicide has seen dramatic increases in recent years. In Trumbull county alone, numbers have gone up at an alarming rate in the last year.

Between 2021 and 2022 in Trumbull County, there was a 37.5% increase in suicides between the ages of 15 to 34. 

Katie Cretella, director of clinical services at The Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board says there are a multitude of factors that contribute to the increase in deaths by suicide.

"The effects of social isolation, we have a lot of students who have been at home during the pandemic that were not able to go to school. There was online learning and then if they were [unable] to engage in any form of extra-curricular activities and if there were any stressors at home," Cretella said. 

Some signs parents should watch for include feeling hopeless, abnormal agitation, changes in appetite, mood and sleep patterns.

Rachel Strohmeyer, first place winner of the video challenge says social media is another factor that contributes to the overall stress young people feel.

"[Suicide] is an increasing issues. Social media has an impact on people. Cyber bullying is a thing now and it's not going to go away until somebody steps out and tries to make a difference," Strohmeyer said. 

You or a loved one can get help 24/7 by dialing the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number 988.