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In-Person Schooling and Youth Suicide: Evidence from School Calendars and Pandemic School Closures

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  • Benjamin Hansen
  • Joseph J. Sabia
  • Jessamyn Schaller

Abstract

This study explores the effect of in-person schooling on youth suicide in the United States. We show that youth suicide rates historically declined during summers and rose again earlier in counties with an August school starting date. We document a departure from this pattern at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: youth suicides fell 25 percent in March 2020, when schools closed, and remained low throughout summer. Leveraging county variation in the timing of reopening, we find that returning to in-person instruction increased youth suicides by 12–18 percent. Analysis of Google search data suggests that bullying is a likely mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Hansen & Joseph J. Sabia & Jessamyn Schaller, 2024. "In-Person Schooling and Youth Suicide: Evidence from School Calendars and Pandemic School Closures," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 59(S), pages 227-255.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:59:y:2024:i:s:p:s227-s255
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.1222-12710R2
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    File URL: http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/59/S/S227
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    2. Janet Currie, 2024. "The Economics of Child Mental Health: Introducing the Causes and Consequences of Child Mental Health Special Issue," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 59(S), pages 1-13.
    3. Yoko Ibuka & Haruo Kakehi & Ryuki Kobayashi & Ryo Nakajima, 2026. "The Effect of Voluntary Staying at Home on Japanese Female Suicide During the COVID‐19 Pandemic," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(5), pages 742-758, May.
    4. Helen Rahlff & Ulf Rinne & Hendrik Sonnabend, 2025. "COVID-19, school closures and (cyber)bullying in Germany," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(6), pages 852-865, November.
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    6. Guariso, Andrea & Björkman Nyqvist, Martina, 2023. "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s learning and wellbeing: Evidence from India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other

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