Child death review board report highlights importance of recognizing suicide warning signs

TOPEKA – (October 8, 2026) – Kansas has taken new steps this year to protect children online and strengthen accountability for platforms and offenders, even as the State Child Death Review Board's 2026 Annual Report underscores the continued need for prevention and early intervention.

The Board's report, which examines deaths of Kansas children from birth through age 17, provides additional context for those efforts. It found that 31 children died by suicide in 2024, compared with 24 in 2023, for a rate of 4.5 deaths per 100,000 children, above the national rate of 2.1. Over the five-year period from 2020 through 2024, 130 Kansas children died by suicide.

Over the five-year period from 2020 through 2024, 130 Kansas children died by suicide. Among the circumstances the Board identified in those deaths: 54% had communicated suicidal thoughts or intentions beforehand.

39% experienced a known crisis within 30 days of their death.

18% faced issues or barriers to mental health services.

12% had experienced bullying, including four cases involving cyberbullying.

"Behind every number in this report is a child whose life ended too soon, leaving family, friends and an entire community forever changed," said Sara Hortenstine, the Board's executive director. "While we cannot change what has happened, we can honor the lives lost by learning from them. My hope is that those lessons continue to shape how we protect children and help make Kansas a safer place for every child."

The Board emphasized that youth suicide often involves multiple contributing circumstances. However, the findings point to the value of recognizing warning signs, responding during periods of crisis, and addressing barriers to care, including risks that can arise through online interactions.

Recognizing that online safety is one part of the broader effort to protect children, the Kansas Attorney General's Office has taken additional steps to address online exploitation and strengthen protections for minors as technology continues to change how children communicate and interact.

In April 2026, Caleb's Law was signed into law, expanding Kansas' sexual extortion statute and strengthening criminal penalties in certain cases involving minors and dependent adults. Named in memory of Caleb Moore, a 14-year-old from El Dorado who died by suicide after being targeted in an online sextortion scheme, the law creates the offenses of aggravated sexual extortion causing great bodily harm and aggravated sexual extortion causing death. It also requires the Attorney General's Office to prepare educational materials on sexual extortion and to work with the State Board of Education and law enforcement to inform schools, students, parents and guardians, and the public.

In August, Attorney General Kris Kobach announced Kansas's participation in a multistate settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc., requiring new child-safety measures on Instagram and Facebook. The agreement includes stronger age-verification measures, parental controls, daily usage limits, nighttime restrictions, and additional safeguards addressing bullying and content related to suicide and self-harm.

Kobach also announced a $9.8 million settlement with Roblox, intended to raise the standard for platforms that market to children. Roblox will underwrite a $500,000, three-year multimedia public-awareness campaign on online child safety designed to reach a Kansas audience. Roblox has also agreed to implement or continue safety measures that include age-assurance so users see only age-appropriate content and chat features; expanded parental controls; protections that limit chat between users under 18 and unknown adults; and stronger chat-moderation tools to prevent off-platforming.

"Children should be able to navigate the digital world without becoming targets of exploitation or abuse," Kobach said. "Through Caleb's Law and our efforts to hold companies like Meta and Roblox accountable, we are working to protect Kansas children from online threats, strengthen accountability, and give parents additional tools to keep their children safe."

Overall, the report found that 387 Kansas children died in 2024, compared with 360 in 2023. The state's overall child mortality rate remained above the national average.

The State Child Death Review Board is a multidisciplinary, multi-agency volunteer board organized by law within the Attorney General's Office to examine trends and patterns that identify risk factors in the deaths of children from birth through age 17.

The 2026 Annual Report is available at: ag.ks.gov/scdrb .

Individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.