Maryland: Data from the National Institute of Mental Health shows that the suicide rate among American children aged 8 to 12 has been steadily increasing over the past fifteen years.
Researchers noted that the results published in the journal JAMA Network Open highlight extensive mental health issues affecting American children daily.
The authors of the study did not attribute the increase to a single cause.
However, experts involved in the research stated that the issue is multifaceted, with technology, social media, and firearms being major contributing factors.
Between 2001 and 2022, 2,241 children aged 8 to 12 died by suicide. While the suicide rate was declining until 2007, it has increased by approximately 8% annually from 2008 to 2022.
From 2001 to 2007, 482 children in the 8 to 12 age group died by suicide. From 2008 to 2022, this number rose to 1,759, equating to a rate of 5.71 per 1 million.