Death of 17-year-old “America's Got Talent” contestant puts spotlight on teenagers and suicide

The death of a 17-year-old girl who performed on “America's Got Talent” with her high school dance team has sparked a discussion about teenagers and mental health.

Emily Gold, a dance captain and 12th-grader at Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California, committed suicide, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office coroner's records, which list Sept. 14 as her date of death.

Gold competed with the Los Osos High School dance team in the quarterfinals of the competition show “America's Got Talent” in August.

Following her death, Gold was remembered by her dance team in an Instagram tribute as a “leader, role model, friend and sister to her teammates.”

The school district that Gold attended also mourned her death, saying in a statement: “The Chaffey Joint Union High School District community is heartbroken by the tragic death of Emily Gold, a senior at Los Osos High School.”

“Emily was a valued member of the Los Osos High School campus and was loved by her peers and teachers,” said Principal Mat Holton, Ed.D., in the statement shared with ABC News. “The district and school are making on-site grief counselors and therapists available to any student who may need support during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences to Emily's family and loved ones.”

Gold's death sparked a discussion on social media about mental health and suicide.

“We just never know what someone is going through or struggling with,” wrote one commenter under the Los Osos High School dance team's Instagram post honoring Gold.

“I have not [sic] “I don't even know her but just attending the same school hits me so hard and I feel the sadness too,” wrote another.

One parent commented on the post: “My son describes her as always happy and with the biggest smile and laugh. A girl that everyone loved. She was so well-liked by everyone.”

According to the National Institute on Mental Health, suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10-14 and 25-34 in the United States, and the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24.

In the years since the coronavirus pandemic, young people and their mental health have come into even greater focus as the data continues to show a worsening trend.

The data prompted U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy to warn in 2021 of a growing mental health crisis among young people.

Last year, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the number of high school students seriously considering suicide increased from 24% in 2019 to 30% in 2021, the most recent data available.

According to the CDC, the most common risk factors for suicide include a history of depression and other mental illness, bullying, loss of relationships, and social isolation.

What parents and caregivers can do to help children

Experts say having open conversations with children about mental health, monitoring behavioral changes, and seeking professional help when needed are generally the most important steps parents and guardians can take to support their children's mental health.

“Although people say that teenagers don't want to talk to their parents, they actually do. They may not want to listen to what they have to say and may not do what they say, but they want to know that their parents are interested and concerned,” Dr. Tami Benton, chief psychiatrist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, told ABC News last year. “The key to getting through this is going to be family – the caregiver, the neighbor who looks after you, whoever it is.”

And especially when it comes to suicide, it is not inherently dangerous for children to hear or talk about suicide in an age-appropriate way.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers guides for talking to children of different ages about suicide.

When behavioral changes occur, the AFSP recommends that parents and educators trust their instincts and observe different behavioral patterns in their children and seek help if needed.

Behavioral changes can include anything from aggression and fatigue to isolation from friends and family, withdrawal from activities, changes in sleep, and expressions of being trapped or hopeless, according to the AFSP.

According to experts, pediatricians, school administrators and psychologists are good contacts for parents and caregivers when it comes to discussions about mental health.

“You know your child better than anyone else, so if you notice a change in their behavior and functioning and how they're doing in school, with peers or with you, talk to someone to see if I should be concerned,” Dr. Robin Gurwitch, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University School of Medicine, previously told “GMA.” “Kids don't come with an instruction manual, so it's unfair to [for parents] to think: “I know what to do.”

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, experiencing substance abuse, or other mental health crises, please call or text 988. You can reach a trained crisis counselor free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also visit 988lifeline.org or call the current toll-free number 800-273-8255. [TALK].