And while not every child who picks up the trend or even uses the phrase is suicidal, it’s important to note that any reference to the back to school necklace should be taken seriously. Suicide may not be on your child’s mind, but overwhelm likely is.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently declared the child mental health problem in America a national emergency with suicide being the second leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24. The AAP has found that nearly 20% of all high school students contemplate suicide.
As mental health concerns among adolescence continue to skyrocket, any reference to suicide—whether it’s used casually or not—should not be brushed off.
Talk to your kids today about the “back to school necklace” trend and their mental health going into this new school year. Making these conversations comfortable, open, and having them often may just save your child’s life.
