The phrase “I had pasta tonight” is taking on a whole new meaning through TikTok. Teens sharing the saying may actually be posting a cry for help.

TikTok is a social media platform geared towards the creation and distribution of short music videos. It is extremely popular with Gen Z and a go-to source for the latest viral content. The lengths to which users go to express themselves through comedy, dancing, or singing exceeds the simplicity of the app’s initial design (originally branded as musical.ly). Which is why the “pasta” trend is all the more important to pay attention to.

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As Parentology explained, phrases like “I had pasta tonight” may really indicate that the user is experiencing thoughts of depression, self-harm, or suicide. A line with similar meaning is, “I finished my shampoo and conditioner at the same time.” These banal expressions may have originated from Wattpad, which is a platform through which users can create and share stories.

A post there by user Hannah Dains is titled, “Don’t Kill Yourself Today,” and highlights reasons for the reader to not commit suicide. Among them are pleas for the audience not to make that choice until they’ve shared their best pasta recipe, or finished their shampoo and conditioner bottles simultaneously.

Recently, one teen’s TikTok said, “Told my mom about my favorite pasta recipe and she made it for dinner tonight.” The caption was a coded message that TikTok users recognized as a cry for help. In response, over 60,000 people commented with support, love, and encouragement. The outpouring of understanding seemed not just to help the original poster, but users in the comments as well.

Young people continue to find ways to express inner turmoil that may be natural, given their countless stressors. CDC data suggests Gen Z is the generation most susceptible to mental illness. The suicide rate for young people 10-24 has increased a terrifying 56 percent in just ten years.

A cyclical problem for this at-risk group is that heavy social media use can add to depression, and it is ubiquitous for kids and adults in that age range. Countless studies draw a direct link between social media use and the risks to social emotional well-being. Yet, even as recently as the spring, many teens were required to be online for hours per day to complete their study during school closures.

Worried parents and empathetic teens should be aware of suicide warning signs. Extreme mood swings, withdrawn or isolated behavior, and increased substance abuse are among those listed by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

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