In the months of August and September 'back to school necklace' is always a trending search term so we've explored the dark meaning behind it.
Because as a parent, your main priority is to protect your children from harm, but sometimes, it can be hard to spot the danger signs.
For instance, if you overheard your child talking about 'back to school necklaces,' you would probably assume they were discussing some kind of friendship jewellery - however we've found out the phrase actually refers to something incredibly dark and worrying.
What is a back to school necklace? What does it mean?
A quick Google reveals that the phrase 'back to school necklace' is actually a euphemism for a noose, and the phrase is used as code for suicide by hanging.
Urban Dictionary - who record the meanings of slang phrases - give the following definition and sentence example:
"A back to school necklace is another name for a noose. This is due to the utter despair you feel when school starts back up again.
"School started yesterday and I just couldn't take the pain anymore so I bought a back to school necklace."
Back to school necklace memes
![back to school necklace meme](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-images/family_money/599ec51450f8b1f109810877/back_to_school_necklace_meme.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Like many youth trends - the phrase back to school necklaces can be seen on social in the form of hashtags and memes.
The most prevelant back to school necklace meme shows the results of a Google image search, where pictures of a noose show up when you search the phrase.
Twitter reactions to 'back to school' necklaces
It seems even children are innocently searching for jewellery for their first day back at school, with horrifying results...
![Back to school tweet](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-images/family_money/599ec51450f8b1f109810877/back-to-school-necklace-meaning.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Rise in youth suicide
The popularity of the phrase back to school necklace is especially worrying when you realise that youth suicide is on the rise in the UK.
According to data released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), 232 young people (aged 10 - 19) took their own lives in 2015, compared to 179 in 2013.
![back to school necklace tweet](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-images/family_money/599ec51450f8b1f109810877/back_to_school_necklaces.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
If you think your child is suicidal or worried about going back to school, what should you do?
Well as always, it's important to be informed and vigiliant. If you hear your child using the phrase 'back to school necklace' - or are worried that your child is feeling suicidal for any other reason - it's imporant to seek expert help immediately. A good starting places is the NHS website, which has advice on how to get help and a list of charities you can turn to.