Suicide rates among teenagers and young adults in the United States are rising, but there is no clear explanation. The Salas’ son Ben died by suicide last year, although he seemed happy and successful.

Ben Salas was a promising student and athlete who took his own life at just twenty-one, leaving behind a shattered community, British Broadcasting Corporation the report said.

The 21-year-old criminology student and aspiring Olympic athlete was one of 50,000 suicides recorded in the United States last year, the highest number ever.

Ben’s parents, Catherine and Tony, were unaware of his struggles. “He was planning to kill himself while he was buying the engagement ring,” Tony recalled.

“He was an all-around good guy,” Tony said. “There’s a huge hole in our souls. A part of us is missing.”

Despite Ben’s apparent success in life, his parents were unable to deal with his inner demons.

The Salas family created a “memory wall” in Ben’s memory, which is engraved with the college diploma he received after his death. “There’s a huge void in our hearts,” Tony said. The question that bothers them is why Ben committed suicide.

Ben was treated for mild depression in 2020, but assured his parents that he was fine. “He wasn’t withdrawn,” Tony said. Just hours before his death, Ben told his father, “I’m fine. I’m fine.”

Students like Lorelai acknowledge the stress and anxiety faced by young people today.

There was a series of suicides at North Carolina State University, where Ben was attending. Seven students, including Ben, took their own lives last school year. There have been three suicides so far this year. Despite efforts by campuses like North Carolina State University, where Ben attends, to support mental health, the pandemic persists.

Assistant Principal Justine Hollingshead called suicide a “national epidemic.”

“If we know the cause, we can fix the problem,” said Justin Hollinghead, assistant vice president at North Carolina State University. “It’s not something we’re trying to avoid or not figure out. But there may not be any warning signs: Individuals don’t do this Don’t tell their family or friends that they made this decision without seeking resources. We may never know why.”

The university has increased counseling services and introduced a system to help students identify signs of struggle among their peers.

Despite these efforts, the reasons behind suicide remain elusive. “We may never know why,” Hollinghead admitted.

Suicide prevention hotlines have seen a spike in calls, especially from young men. Suicide hotlines like 988 are already overwhelmed, and operators like Josue Melendez have seen firsthand the toll that economic uncertainty and academic stress are taking on young callers.

The Salas family believes financial pressure and a lack of support systems are to blame for the crisis. They advocate for open conversations about mental health and urge people not to ignore subtle signs of struggle.