Clinical relevance: Teen suicide is a serious public health issue that must be met with increased research and prevention programming.

Suicide rates have increased by 52 percent in adolescents and young adults from 2000 to 2021, according to the CDC. Participating in sports offers multi-dimensional benefits for mental health. The physical act of exercise can help decrease the risk of depression, and increased social connectedness can help improve biomarkers for health.

Amid Chick-Fil-A sandwiches and tennis gear, Ethan Park explained to the crowd why he set up this charity tennis tournament.

“It’s simple. Mental health is an issue close to my heart,” the 17-year-old Park explained.

On Sept. 7, 2024, thirty-two kids and young adults from Park’s Southern California community served, smashed, and sliced at the second annual Game.Set.Hope. charity tennis tournament to raise mental health awareness.

Park created the organization Game.Set.Hope. after his cousin and uncle both died by suicide last year. He and his cousin were close in age and lived only 40 minutes away from one another.

“She was just going through a really traumatic time in her life, and I don’t think she got the help she needed,” Park recalled.

Part Of A Larger, Tragic Trend

Suicide rates have increased by 52 percent in adolescents and young adults from 2000 to 2021, according to the CDC. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in children aged 10-24. 

Park said he chose tennis as a way to raise awareness because, “the sport embodies many qualities needed to address mental health issues: resilience, teamwork, and the ability to stay focused under pressure.”

Park used tennis as a tool to raise awareness, but playing tennis itself – as he hinted at – can boost one’s mental health. Research has shown that the physical act of exercise can decrease the risk of depression in children. Interactions during play also foster social connectedness, which offers health benefits independent of physical activity.

Staying Connected

Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University. She has been studying the health effects of social connections for the last 20 years. She has reviewed literature showing a dose-response effect of social connectedness on biomarkers such as heart rate and neuroendocrine markers. 

“For every level of increase in social connection, there was a decrease in some of these biomarkers for health,” especially in adolescents, Holt-Lunstad said. 

Experiencing connectedness can have a profound impact on teens, Holt-Lunstad pointed out, “Early social experiences significantly shape their social lives in later adulthood, but also significantly predict health outcomes later in life.”

Tennis helped Park feel more socially connected in his own life. Park’s favorite moment playing tennis: his team rallying to defeat their rival high school.

“Whenever we play them, I just have a great time because the rivalry is pretty strong,” Park added. 

James Gladstone, MD, is the Chief of Sports Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, and an orthopedic consultant for the US Open. He sees how tennis benefits people across the life course. 

“In terms of being social and keeping you connected with the world, certainly for older people, it’s fantastic,” Gladstone said about the sport.

Suicide, a Concern at Any Age

Social connection is critical for this age group, as adults aged 75 and older have one of the highest suicide rates of any age group, according to the CDC. 

 “Even though youth may have higher prevalence rates [of loneliness] than older adults, older adults have significantly greater isolation,” Holt-Lunstadsaid said.

She considers social isolation a more objective measure that can influence suicide risk.  

For both physical and mental health, Gladstone said that “tennis is one of the most complete, all-round sports you can think of.”

This has been the case for Park, who said, “Tennis is just a great way for you to learn all the skills, get out there and talk with other people, just have a great time because that’s what sports are for.” 

After a successful event, Park raised almost $3,000 to donate to the National Alliance on Mental Health. He hopes to pass the torch of Game.Set.Hope. to another student next year to carry on the mission. 

Still Battling the Stigma of Suicide

There is still a stigma associated with talking about mental health, Park said.

“Even for me, it’s hard to talk about. I had depression during what happened,” Park remembered, as he discussed his cousin and uncle’s suicide. 

“Not a lot of people talk about real mental health,” he said, specifically calling on high schools and other organizations to support young people in times of crisis. “I think our community needs to do a better job of advocating towards how important mental health is.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text the national lifeline at 988.

Further Reading

Despair is Killing More Middle-Aged Black and Native Americans

Risk for Suicide and Homicide Peaks at Night

How NRx Could Upend the Fight Against Depression and Suicide