In an alarming trend, suicide rates are rising across the nation among preteens. Across the U.S., rates have risen approximately 8% annually among kids ages eight to 12.

"We're more worried about the young kids today than we ever have been," Joe Shorokey, Alta CEO said. "The young kids are the ones that are so susceptible to the internet and social media. Everything looks better than real life and that tends to make kids feel more depressed," he said.

ALTA has made strides to try to help the youth identify risks within themselves, their peers and family members.

"We have a program called 'Linkages' and that program works in schools throughout Mahoning and Trumbull County," Shorokey said. "We go in there and we educate kids about signs of suicide and about depression and other general mental health and even substance abuse issues," he said.

In addition to social media, Shorokey tells 21 News family discord, trauma and too much pressure can all play a role in preteen suicides.

"Many parents want their kids to be as good if not better academically or physically, athletically than other kids so what you see is sometimes more pressure on kids," Shorokey said.

So far, suicide rates in Mahoning and Trumbull counties don't match the national trend, but it's something they keep an eye on.

"What we try to do is help them understand not only what those symptoms look like, but what to do when and if you see them, who to talk to, what to say," Shorokey said.

Like Mahoning, the Trumbull Mental Health and Recovery Board works with local school districts to talk about suicide and educate students on the resources available to them.