Middle-school girls in the United States are increasingly engaging in self-harm and suicide attempts, and it could be related to smartphone usage, say experts.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, a 15-year study of emergency rooms reveals a shocking state of affairs, especially with girls in the age range of 10 to 14.
The incidents of girls in this age group inflicting self-harm and attempting suicide has risen since 2008, shows the new data. Some experts are saying that it could be due to increased Internet bullying because smartphone usage is more common than ever in this age group.
The data used for the study was derived from all non-fatal, first-time emergency visits across 66 hospitals across the country between 2001 and 2015.
An earlier, similar study in Canada also showed the same trend.
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