No. 10; Updated May 2008 Click here to download and print a PDF
version of this document. Suicides among young people continue
to be a serious problem. Each year in the U.S., thousands of
teenagers commit suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of
death for 15-to-24-year-olds, and the sixth leading cause of
death for 5-to-14-year-olds. Teenagers experience strong
feelings of stress, confusion, self-doubt, pressure to succeed,
financial uncertainty, and other fears while growing up. For
some teenagers, divorce, the formation of a new family with
step-parents and step-siblings, or moving to a new community can
be very unsettling and can intensify self-doubts. For some
teens, suicide may appear to be a solution to their problems and
stress. Depression and suicidal feelings are treatable mental
disorders. The child or adolescent needs to have his or her
illness recognized and diagnosed, and appropriate treatment
plans developed. When parents are in doubt whether their child
has a serious problem, a psychiatri