Suicide among teens and young adults is a complex and distressing problem. Lives are lost just as they seem to be getting started. The death of a young person is always a tragedy. In addition, because young people often turn to suicide as an impulsive solution to problems, suicide is often preventable.

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds (after accidents and homicides), and the fourth-leading cause of death among 10 to 14 year olds, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Suicidal thoughts or behaviors may be symptoms of different mental health disorders. Many young people who commit suicide have at least one major mental health disorder. For teens and young adults, suicide may be associated with depression, substance abuse, eating disorders and conduct disorders.

Young people appear to be especially susceptible to suicide contagion (exposure to the suicide of others that leads to an increase in suicidal behavior). This can include certain types of media reports of the suicide of strangers.

There appears to be an association between self-directed violence (e.g., suicide) and violence directed at others, especially among young people. A sizable proportion of fatal school-associated violence (e.g., school shootings) involves suicidal behavior. More research is needed to better understand this connection between suicide and interpersonal violence.

Males commit suicide more often than females among these age groups. American Indians and Alaskan Natives have the highest suicide rate in the 15 to 24 year old age group, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More whites commit suicide than blacks or Hispanics, although the suicide rate of African American youth has climbed dramatically since the 1980s. Homosexual and bisexual teens apparently report suicidal ideation and attempts more often than heterosexual teens (although the accuracy of this data is questionable, due to a lack of reliable statistics for both sexual orientation and suicide attempts among youth).

There are warning signs of suicide that are specific to young people. These include declining grades, skipping school, disciplinary problems and running away from home. When approaching a teen or young adult about suicide, parents and others should focus on maintaining open lines of communication.