September 10 is dedicated as World Suicide Prevention Day, an important day dedicated to suicide awareness and mental health care promotion. Suicide can be a challenging subject to talk about, especially when it comes to teens and tweens. It’s important, though, for everyone to understand more about this issue and the people it affects. Here’s what parents and kids need to know about observing this important day and how we can all help change the narrative around suicide.
The Vulnerable State of Teen Mental Health Today
In recent years, there’s been a worrying trend in the general mental health of young people. An eye-opening stat that parents may not know is that suicide is the second-leading cause of death for 10- to 14-year-olds, behind only serious accidents. It’s not entirely clear what’s driving this concerning statistic, but many believe there’s a strong correlation between tech and social media use.
In fact, the U.S. surgeon general issued a warning in 2023 about the risks social media poses to teens’ mental well-being. He then followed it up with an op-ed in The New York Times proposing a warning label on social media akin to those on cigarettes or alcohol — that’s how dangerous he considers it.
Although social media can be a place for connection and creativity, it’s also a breeding ground for potentially harmful experiences. Kids can scroll for hours and experience cyberbullying, fall victim to sextortion, encounter inappropriate content, compare one’s self unfairly to others, and more. These can negatively impact a teen’s sense of self-worth and contribute to mental health struggles, including depression and suicidal thoughts.
This Year’s Theme: Changing the Narrative on Suicide
Starting this year and lasting until 2026, the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day will be centered around “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.” Wondering what exactly “change the narrative means?” It's about disrupting the ways we’ve talked about suicide in the past and reframing them in a way that destigmatizes the topic and encourages people to seek help.
Here are a few different ways that together we can change the narrative around suicide:
Encourage open conversations around mental health — including the hard stuff
One of the most powerful ways to fight the stigma around mental health is by normalizing discussions about it. With friends and family, be honest and open about feelings. Be honest about yours and inquire earnestly about theirs. The phrase “it’s okay to not be okay” is a universal truth, and we shouldn’t shame people for struggling emotionally. When folks start believing that it’s bad or embarrassing to share how they really feel, this encourages them to hide it more and avoid help.
According to the CDC, research shows that people who are having thoughts of suicide actually feel relief when a trusted friend or family member talks to them about it in a caring way. Data suggests that acknowledging and discussing suicide may actually reduce rather than increase suicidal thoughts.
If you’re worried about your child feeling suicidal, the most important thing you can do is talk openly about it. You have to learn what they’re going through before you can help them.
Think about the language we use when discussing suicide
Being mindful about the words you use when talking about suicide can go a long way in helping destigmatize it. By choosing compassionate and non-judgmental language, you can create a safer environment for people to talk openly about their feelings and experiences without fear.
Here are a few ways to shift your mindset when discussing it:
- Instead of saying “commit suicide,” which equates the act to something heinous like murder. Instead, say a person “died by suicide.”
- Instead of using “suicidal person,” say “a person with suicidal thoughts.” This helps to emphasize the person and not their condition first.
- Avoid phrases like, “I’d rather jump off a bridge than do X” or “This homework makes me want to kill myself.” Joking about suicide like this — even if it’s not your intent — can increase the stigma around it.
Important Resources for Families
Whether it’s your child, a friend, a co-worker, or even an acquaintance, it’s important to know that there are readily available — and free — resources for suicide prevention, including:
- The 988 Lifeline
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- The Trevor Project
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)
How Bark Can Help Detect Suicidal Ideation
Bark’s award-winning service helps families by monitoring children’s online activities for potential signs of depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and more. When you connect their device and accounts, Bark will scan for potential issues and send you an alert if something concerning is found.
Examples of suicidal ideation in online activity include:
- Google searches of “ways to kill myself”
- Texts or DMs between friends about feeling hopeless or not wanting to live anymore
- Google Docs or emails that act like journals where kids express suicidal thoughts
If you get an alert, you can check in with your child and make sure everything’s okay — and get your child help, if needed. If you’re ever worried about your child’s immediate safety, dial 911.
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