Everything Parents Need to Know About The Disturbing ‘Back-To-School Necklace’ Trend
Okay. I’m officially getting old. I heard a teen at the Walmarts talking about a “back-to-school necklace,” and I thought it was something I was going to have to buy for my freshman.
It’s not actually a fun new trendy accessory.
Turns out, this seemingly innocent phrase is actually something that has the potential to be quite concerning.
So what exactly is a back-to-school necklace?
I had to do what all old people do. Yup, I hit up Urban Dictionary when I couldn’t find an actual “back-to-school necklace” at the store.
Get ready for a bit of a shock.
A “Back-To-School Necklace” is another word for hanging a noose around your neck.
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
Urban Dictionary
The kids are using this phrase sort of sarcastically, but it can be a bit alarming. They are basically saying that they’d rather hang themselves than go back to school.
And, if I catch my daughter using the phrase, we are going to have words.
Some of the things you might here are:
“I’m about to go buy my back-to-school necklace,”
“Time to wear my back-to-school necklace,”
“This sh**’s making me want to grab my back-to-school necklace,”
“I want a back-to-school necklace,”
“‘Bout to get a back-to-school necklace,” etc.
It may seem silly and harmless, but it can also be a cry for help.
Teen suicide is FAR too prevalent in the country. My life has been affected by it several times, and it needs to stop.
The trick is to make sure that parents get educated on this phrase. That way they are in a better position to help.
Parents may want to pre-emptively talk to their kids about this “back-to-school necklace.”
If you need some resources to help in talking to your teen, the Columbia University website has a very extensive list that might be able to help.
If you are someone you know needs immediate help, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24/7. You only need to dial 988 from a cell phone.
