The number of children ages 8 to 12 who died by suicide in the United States reached 194 in 2025, the highest total since at least 2001, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This troubling trend reflects a broader mental health crisis among America's youngest children, one that experts say is being overlooked because attention has historically focused on teenagers.

Since 2008, the preteen suicide rate has climbed by an average of 8.2% each year, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health whose analysis was published in 2024. The crisis is not affecting all children equally. Black preteens have the highest overall suicide rate, while girls and Hispanic preteens have experienced the greatest percentage increases. Native American preteens have also seen some of the most pronounced increases.

The data from Minnesota illustrates just how dramatic the shift has been. Last year, the suicide rate among children ages 10 to 14 more than doubled compared with the five years prior, rising from 2.2 per 100,000 people to 5.8 per 100,000. Nationally, the overall suicide rate increased by 4% year-over-year in Minnesota, but the youngest age group saw a far steeper climb.

Why Are Younger Children Showing Suicidal Thoughts?

Mental health professionals are observing suicidal ideation in children younger than ever before. Dr. Jenny Britton, chief clinical officer at the Washburn Center for Children in Minneapolis, a nonprofit mental health practice, has witnessed this shift over her 25-year career.

"I've watched the age of kids who struggle with suicidal ideation and suicidality get younger and younger over that time. Now, we're seeing even as young as our 7- and 8-year-olds," said Britton.

Jenny Britton, Chief Clinical Officer, Washburn Center for Children

At Children's Minnesota, a Minneapolis-based health system, the inpatient mental health unit opened four years ago primarily serving teenagers. But over the past year and a half, the unit has seen a growing number of 10- to 12-year-olds who have harmed themselves, attempted suicide, or expressed suicidal thoughts. Dr. Prachi "PJ" Striker, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the facility, described the shift as concerning.

"Kids are feeling unsupported. They have more alone time. They're more isolated. People aren't really picking up on some of the clues of depression as early," explained Striker.

Dr. Prachi "PJ" Striker, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Children's Minnesota

Experts point to multiple factors driving this mental health crisis among preteens. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have played a significant role. Children who are now 10 to 12 years old spent their early elementary years at home during lockdowns, missing critical social development opportunities. Many lost loved ones to COVID-19, with children of color making up a disproportionate number of those who lost caregivers to the virus.

Beyond the pandemic's lingering effects, preteens today face a complex web of modern stressors:

• Social Media and Screen Time: Excessive social media use and screen time, particularly before bed, are linked to disrupted sleep and worsening mental health symptoms.
• Sleep Deprivation: Early school start times and late-night screen use mean most children are not getting enough sleep, which harms both physical and mental health.
• Academic Pressure: Standardized curriculum and high expectations for grades create new sources of anxiety and depression on top of other stressors.
• Loss of Unstructured Play: Reduced outdoor playtime and unstructured activities mean children have fewer opportunities to develop problem-solving skills and independence.
• Bullying and Social Isolation: Both online and in-person bullying, combined with feelings of isolation, contribute to hopelessness and suicidal thoughts.
• LGBTQ+ Youth Concerns: Policies restricting gender-affirming care have created fear and anxiety for some transgender and gender-nonconforming youth.

Jeremy Pettit, a professor of psychology at Florida International University who specializes in depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors in children and adolescents, emphasized the importance of sleep in mental health. "When sleep is disrupted, it's bad for everything, physical health and mental health. The data are pretty clear that our kids are not getting enough sleep at night," he noted.

How to Help Identify and Support Struggling Preteens

Mental health experts and advocates are calling for systemic changes to catch struggling children earlier and provide tailored support. Key recommendations include:

• Earlier Screening: The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends suicide screening for all patients starting at age 12, but experts argue screening should begin as early as age 8 to prevent children from slipping under the radar.
• Regular Mental Health Check-ins: Pediatricians and parents should conduct more frequent mental health assessments with preteens, looking for signs of depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and withdrawal from friends and activities.
• Culturally Tailored Interventions: Because Black, Hispanic, Native American, and LGBTQ+ preteens face disproportionately high rates, mental health services should be designed to address their specific needs and barriers to care.
• Trusted Adult Connections: Research shows that talking with trusted adults and connecting children with professional help can aid in prevention, and most people who have suicidal thoughts do not act on them.

One family's experience illustrates both the challenges and the importance of intervention. An 11-year-old girl in Chicago began showing signs of depression after her father was hospitalized with diabetes complications. She experienced fatigue, loss of appetite, social withdrawal, and intense worry. She eventually told her mother in a written note: "I'm having thoughts about hurting myself. I'm tired, and afraid of death".

When the girl's mother took her to the emergency room after learning she had attempted self-harm, finding appropriate psychiatric care proved difficult. Several facilities refused to accept her because they only served teenagers or didn't accept her insurance plan. Eventually, she was placed at a child psychiatric facility nearly an hour away. After completing an intensive outpatient therapy program and beginning regular therapy sessions, the girl's condition improved. Her mother reflected on how fortunate they were to find help, noting that many other families are not as successful in navigating the mental health system.

Dr. Maria Hughes Rahmandar, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Adolescents and Young Adults and an associate professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, expressed concern that despite the return to in-person school and social activities, preteens and teens continue to struggle. "I was hopeful that as people were able to get back to their friends and school and normalize, that that would get better, but it really hasn't," she stated.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call or text 988, the U.S. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or access online chat at 988lifeline.org.