Self-harmIs “Sadfishing” something to worry about? More Self-harm terms
Sadfishing
Posting exaggerated emotional distress for attention and engagement. The hard part for parents and schools: it's nearly indistinguishable from a genuine cry for help, and dismissing a post as sadfishing when it wasn't is the costly mistake. Take repeated distress posts seriously either way.
How kids use it
Vague-sad stories and captions ('you will all miss me').
Treat "Sadfishing" as real until you know otherwise. Kids often talk about distress in coded or joking language first — the cost of taking it seriously and being wrong is a slightly awkward conversation; the cost of dismissing it and being wrong is much higher.
- Ask directly and calmly. Naming it doesn’t plant the idea — that’s a myth.
- If there’s any indication of intent: the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) is free and 24/7.
- Loosen the late-night phone window — distress content hits hardest alone at 2am.