Mental health experts in Montana are alerting parents and educators about a concerning phrase students have been using for nearly a decade: the "back-to-school necklace." The term has nothing to do with jewelry or fashion — instead, it's a coded reference to suicidal thoughts that children use when struggling with severe anxiety about returning to school.

"The 'back-to-school necklace' ... It's been trending for about 10 years. We hear about it every year," said Beth Price Morrison, substance abuse prevention program manager at Alliance For Youth. The phrase symbolically references a noose and indicates suicidal ideation. When children express excitement about getting their "back-to-school necklace," they're actually signaling emotional distress and need immediate attention from adults.

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