BUFFALO, N.Y. — Gwen Mysiak, executive director of P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative knows personally and professionally about grief, especially when children are involved.

"We have learned that bereaved children are 175% more likely to have substance misuse disorder and so and one in four suicide deaths, it would have been a bereaved child," she said.

In Erie County in the first seven months of 2023, 10 percent of all overdose deaths were people under 30.

Kim Syracuse is a licensed master social worker with Spectrum Health.

"Everyone's story is unique," she said. "Everyone has different life stressors and risk factors that they're dealing with, but substance use is a common risk factor for suicidal ideation. So we do see it, and oftentimes people will present with feelings

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