Kathleen Founds

Because suicide rates are rising, especially among youth and in communities of color

In his novel Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace wrote that people succumb to suicide for the same reason that people jump from burning high-rise buildings. “When the flames get close enough,” Wallace wrote, “falling to death becomes the slightly less terrible of two terrors.” 

Wallace took his own life in 2009. This tragedy was no isolated incident—suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-four. There are twice as many suicides in the United States than there are homicides. And suicide rates are rising—especially among youth and in communities of color.

From my own experience with bipolar depression, I identify with Wallace’s burning high-rise metaphor. An acute depressive episode does indeed feel like being trapped in a room on fire. I understand what drives people to jump out the window. But my experience with depression has also taught me that the burning room has another way out—a door. The door out is help from other people. This help usually comes in the form of a therapist or psychiatrist.

In 2010, the Affordable Health Care Act was signed into law. The ACA mandates mental health care as a covered benefit. Without the ACA, mental illness could again be classified as a preexisting condition. People with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, OCD, depression, and anxiety could lose their mental health care coverage. 

Trump wants to destroy the ACA. Kamala Harris will fight to defend it. Harris is a champion for expanding access to mental health care. In January 2024, she announced increased funding for mental health counselors in schools. As vice president, Harris has held insurance companies accountable and closed loopholes. Harris has stated that she is “committed to ensuring that every person in our country has the mental health care they need to thrive.”

That gives me hope. 

Kathleen Founds is the author of the graphic novel Bipolar Bear and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Health Insurance.