By Aabigayle McIntosh

With statistics from the United States revealing a significant rise in suicide rates among individuals aged 10-14 and 25-34, a leading mental health advocate is urging parents to be more attentive to their children’s mental health and aware of potential warning signs.

Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Chenelle Joseph is appealing to parents not to overlook critical indicators, such as children expressing thoughts of suicide or wanting to disappear, talking, writing, or drawing about death, and withdrawing from friends and family.

“One of the alarming trends on social media, especially among young people, is cutting,” Dr. Joseph explained. “It is most commonly seen in female teenagers, though some males engage in this behaviour as well.”

She also encouraged parents to be vigilant about any unexplained scars on their children, saying, “If your child has multiple scars or burn-like marks on their forearms, it’s important to question their origin. Pay attention not only to their appearance but also to how they speak and behave, both at home and in school.