We had a steady stream of teenagers coming to the house and what seemed like hundreds of telephone calls. Teens are in a transitional period between childhood and adulthood, and this can lead to confusion and anxiety. Teens with an adequate support network of friends, family, religious affiliation, peer groups or extracurricular activities may have an outlet to deal with their everyday frustrations. Teens without an adequate support network may feel disconnected and isolated from their family and peer group. These teens are at risk for suicide if they are unable to deal with their problems.
Depression is also common among teenagers.
The feelings of helplessness and worthlessness that can accompany it, along with disturbances in sleep or appetite, can fuel a downward spiral of health and grades, further clouding perspective. Even thinking seems intolerably difficult. New Canadian research suggests there is a genetic reason why some people commit suicide, supporting a widely held belief that suicide can run in families. Studies have found that some people who are depressed have altered chemical levels in their bodies. Other studies show that aggressive and impulsive people who make violent suicide attempts have reduced amounts of serotonin, a key brain chemical.