PHOENIX (AZFamily) —Children in foster care face struggles that most kids never imagine. Data shows that, in the U.S., youth in foster care are two and a half times more likely to think about suicide and four times more likely to try.
Behind those numbers are real children, like 12-year-old Kayci Griffen, who was missing for more than a week while her family worried she may have become one of these statistics.
Kayci was last seen on Sept. 1 near 16th Street and Roeser Road in Phoenix. Her family said she ran away from foster care after telling them she wanted to hurt herself.
“Kayci was one who has been through a lot of trauma and a lot of challenges that have come over the last year quickly. And so, you know, not so good thoughts came across her mind,” said her aunt, Dana Burns.
Experts say that is tragically common. While Kayci was found days after going missing, national studies show children in foster care are two and a half times more likely to contemplate suicide than other kids and four times more likely to attempt it.
“We were in dependency court now. And I think all of that, really played a huge part in the challenges Kayci was dealing with mentally. And so she started talking about, you know, the suicide attempts and wanting to commit suicide,” Burns explained.
Advocates point to instability, trauma, and separation from family as key factors. Kayci’s mom died of breast cancer last year. Soon after, Kayci and her baby brother were put into foster care by the Arizona Department of Child Safety.
“Baby brother ingested methamphetamine in the care of someone else. DCS got involved,” Burns said.
Kayci is now back home, but her family is pleading for more attention on this silent crisis facing kids in the system.
“They’re already, they have trauma on top of trauma. Its just stacked. So what are we doing to relieve some of that? These are babies, the pressures that these babies are experiencing. What are we doing?” asked Burns.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is out there. Text or call 988.
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