Rates of suicide among elementary school-age children have nearly doubled in the past 20 years , according to new research.
Researchers examined death records for US preteens aged eight to 12 from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2022.
They found that the rate rose from about 3.3 per 1million deaths in 2001 to more than nine per 1million in 2021, an increase of more than 170 percent.
Research suggests that a protracted, worsening mental health crisis among young people is leading to rises in suicides. The crisis has resulted in record high rates of hopelessness, depression, and anxiety.
Using exisiting death record data, researchers found that rates of suicides per one million have increased by a rate of 1.7 per million over the past two decades
Researchers did not say explicitly why the rates of suicide among children is rising, but it coincides with a worsening mental health crisis in young people
The overall number of suicide deaths is still low. A total of 2,241 preteens died by suicide from 2001 to 2022.
About 68 percent of them were boys age eight to 12.
Still, it means today that suicide is now the fifth most common way for an eight-to-12-year-old to die. Back in 2001, it wasn't even in the top 10.
According to the latest research, hanging or suffocation was the predominant method of suicide for the two-decade period, but the largest increase in preteen suicides was by firearm.
Researchers said: 'This study provides a foundation for future research to explore unique factors associated with preteen suicide.'
Their findings were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Meanwhile, figures show the percentage of those who have contemplated or attempted suicide is at an all-time-high.
Sixteen percent of young people contemplated suicide in 2011. That rose to 22 percent in 2021. And in 2011, eight percent attempted suicide. In 2021, 10 percent attempted.
Black preteens had the highest rates of suicide for both periods, chung chi (
try this) whereas Hispanic preteens had the highest percentage increase.
Researchers said: 'These findings highlight a need to better understand suicide risk among racial and ethnic subgroups, including multiracial individuals who comprise the fastest-growing racial group in the US.'
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While the researchers did not offer an explanation, government tracking has consistently shown a worsening mental health crisis over the past two decades.
The sharpest increase in suicide rates coincided with the Covid pandemic, when millions were forced to forego social activities and time with friends, suffer disruptions to mental health care, and be confined to their homes.
At the same time, federal researchers in a previous report have said, ‘As we saw in the 10 years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health among students overall continues to worsen.'
Experts from across the medical and academic spectrum have posited that various aspects of modern life have set young people up for mental distress.
An increasingly sedentary population with poor dietary habits feeds into feelings of depression and inadequacy. Research has shown that children who played sports were a fifth less likely to suffer depression compared to those who were not sporty. Being active is also tied to lower rates of anxiety.
Poor sleep quality also impairs people's mental health. Sleep research suggests that a teenager needs between eight and 10 hours of sleep every night, yet most teenagers only get about 6.5-7.5 hours sleep per night.
Children are also more tied than ever to screens and social media. Government researchers have found that children and adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems, including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
When asked about the impact of social media on their body image, 46 percent of adolescents aged 13-17 said social media makes them feel worse.