It’s amazing how far social media has come and how much closer it has brought us to our relatives, friends, and colleagues. However, it is important to remember that everything we find on our devices isn’t always safe. Especially with the rise of mental health stigma, it has made things like suicide something that is becoming too common in children.

Over the past week or so, I have been hearing of deaths related to suicide. I couldn’t help but think about the pressures children, teens, and adults are having at this point in time. I read an article about the Blue Whale Challenge awhile back and kind of laughed it off and told my sister not to play it. I didn’t know it then, but this was one of the best decisions I have made in awhile. Telling my sister to not play this game could have indeed, saved her life.

So what is the Blue Whale Challenge? Well, it is an app that anyone can download on their devices and it gives you 50 days of challenges to do. These aren’t the typical challenges you are thinking of though, they are harmful and disgusting. You can read more about it here.

Although the deaths that have been talked about relating to this challenge can’t be confirmed if they are linked, many schools around the country are taking action. Even other social media sites like Instagram are getting more involved and redirecting you to supports you can click on if you search the challenge on there. Things like this prove that media is a good way to have fun when you are bored, but it can also lead to more serious things that we can’t take a chance on.

It is important as ever to remind your loved ones that you love them and to warn them to not play this game. It is dangerous for people of all ages who are struggling with something in their life. If your sibling is someone who is always on their phone, make sure that they stay in the clear from something so harmful. We need to end this cycle of glorifying suicide and remind ourselves that it’s okay to want to get help.

This specific part of social media doesn’t give both sides of the story when talking about suicide. Their side is how nothing is going to get better and that you need to do all of these challenges to prove to others what you are capable of. What it doesn’t show you is how many people would miss you if you were gone, how beautiful your wedding will be, how much your future significant other loves you, or how much happiness your future job holds for you. It doesn’t show you how life gets so much better, it may just take some time. This is nothing to be ashamed of and suicide is not the answer to the reason you are feeling this way.