Increase in Suicide Rates in Young Girls Due to Social Media

Recent studies say there has been an increase in suicide rates in young girls due to social media. Learn more about it in this article.

Historically, males have been more likely than girls to take their own lives, and this trend is expected to continue. “A larger percentage increase in suicide rates” for female youth has been discovered by researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, over 40 years.

Those between the ages of 10 and 19 were studied in a study published in JAMA Network Open. More than 85,000 young people committed suicide in the United States, with males accounting for around 80% of the deaths and girls accounting for 20%. Suicide rates, which had been on a “downward trend” since the early 1990s, began rising again in 2007. However, the suicide rate for girls, in particular, has sparked new worries.

There was an overall increase in female juvenile suicide rates, which narrowed the difference between the male and female rats. There was a 12.7 percent annual increase in suicide rates for girls aged 10 to 14 and a 7.9 percent annual increase in suicide rates for those between 15 and 19. For males, the growth rate was 7.1%, while it was 3.5% for girls.

Is social media to blame for this?

Despite the lack of investigation, experts believe that social media is a contributing cause to the rise in female suicides, but it isn’t the only one.

Children are more likely to experience social isolation due to their use of social media, which has been shown to increase the risk of suicide. During adolescence, you begin to learn social skills and begin to form relationships with others. Genuine human connections cannot be replicated on social media.

Most youngsters have social media accounts, and the average age of account creation is roughly 12 years old, according to a Common Sense Media census report in 2016. Teens who spend more time on social media are more likely to suffer from depression, which raises their risk of suicide.

In addition, girls reported spending more time on social media than boys (up to three hours a day), and they were more likely to experience problems with body image and bullying. In other words, we spend less time connecting with others in the real world as we become more reliant on social media.

Social media also makes it simpler to compare yourself to others. At this stage of life, kids are forming their identities, and they are more vulnerable to the pressures of peer comparison than adults ever will be. They get the impression that they aren’t good enough due to social networking. That interferes with the development of their identity, but it also makes them feel bad about themselves, which can be a risk factor for developing depression.

What are the telltale signs when a child or teen is contemplating suicide?

• Change of pace.
• Behavior shifts.
• To discuss death.

Parents should keep an eye on their children’s laptops and other electronic devices when researching suicide and death. Parental supervision is one of the most critical aspects in preventing any poor trajectory, whether it’s severe mental illness, substance misuse, juvenile criminality, or adolescent pregnancy.

What role do parents play in this?

Be sure to keep a dialogue going. To help your child, you must intervene as soon as you sense a difference or see them struggling.

Recognize and accept the human experience. Don’t react alarmed or criticize your youngster for their evil thoughts, no matter how upsetting it is to hear them.

Seek the advice of a professional. A qualified counselor or therapist with experience working with adolescents is an excellent choice. Invite your youngster to accompany you inside, or ask whether they’d prefer to go alone. Also, keep an eye on them to see how therapy is going and whether or not it is benefiting them.

Helpful related article: Teaching Children to Use Social Media Wisely, Things to Know Before Posting Pictures of Your Kid, What I Learned About Social Media from My Gen Z Children