Tragic statistics show that it is now just as likely for a child age 10-14 to die from suicide as from a car accident.

On November 3, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention published the harsh fact and they also found that the suicide rate for said group had quickly caught up to the death rate of car accidents.

The declination of teens mental health can be linked to our quickly changing society. Social media has a big impact on the life of teens these days. Social media makes it possible for kids to witness someone’s humiliation outside of school and other public places.

Although death is infrequent for adolescents, the unknown increase in suicide of children and teens was concerning so federal researchers tracked it. In 2014, 425 children killed themselves, compared to384 children who had died from a car accident.

In 2014, a considerably greater amount of boys killed themselves compared to girls. In total, 275 boys killed themselves leaving girls at 150 suicides. However, the increase in girls’ suicide was much more distinct, which tripled compared with a rise of a third for boys.

There is no single factor that causes suicide, but social media has a tendency to make situations worse. Freshman Jordyn Read said, “Taking a break from social media has been really refreshing and it has increased my confidence.”

Girls in high school can be very self-conscious about their appearance due to the society that we live in today. Seeing photos of other girls with lavish lifestyles can cause a decrease in self-confidence and self-worth in many girls. A decrease in self-confidence can cause Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). BDD is a body image disorder that can sometimes co-occur with social phobia. People with this disorder may avoid other people and social events; this isolation can lead to suicidal thoughts and behavior.

It can take a lot of courage to help someone who is suicidal, it can mix up emotions that can be difficult to handle. Don’t forget to take care of yourself too while you’re helping a suicidal person. Confide in a friend or family member to talk about your feelings and get support of your own.