Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9, 985-994; doi:10.3390/ijerph9030985 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph Review Social Aspects of Suicidal Behavior and Prevention in Early Life: A Review Maya Amitai 1,2 and Alan Apter 2,3,* 1 Child and Adolescent Division, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; E-Mail: maya47@zahav.net.il 2 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 3 Department of Psychiatry, The Feinberg Child Study Center, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: eapter@clalit.org.il; Tel.: +972-3-925-3617; Fax: +972-3-925-3864. Received: 2 February 2012; in revised form: 5 March 2012 / Accepted: 12 March 2012 / Published: 19 March 2012 Abstract: Purpose: The present review summarizes the updated literature on the social aspects of suicidal behavior and prevention in adolescents. Recent findings: The predictive role of psychiatric disorders and past history are well recognized in adolescent suicide, but the role of social and cultural factors is less clear. Studies have focused on the importance of ethnicity, gender, family characteristics, and socioeconomic status. More recently, attention has been addressed to broader social risk factors, such as bullying in adolescents, suicide contagion, sexual orientation, and the popular media. Further empirical evidence is needed to advance our understanding of suicidal youth, develop better assessment tools, and formulate effective prevention and treatment programs. Summary: Suicidal behavior remains an important clinical problem and major cause of death in youth. Social factors may be at least as important as genetics. Advancing our understanding of underlying cultural and sociological issues in youth suicide will help clinicians achieve more efficient prediction, prevention and treatment. Keywords: adolescents; social; cultural; risk factors; suicide; bullying