We are not sure why girls seem more depressed than boys but TAP data show depression reaches a peak in ninth and tenth grade in girls and remains fairly constant for boys. Depression is the leading cause of suicide in young people. Twelve percent of all students indicate they have tried to kill themselves.
Females are more likely than males to think about, plan, and attempt suicide.
Research indicates boys are more likely to complete a suicide because they usually use more violent methods. The TAP survey found that over sixty percent of teens who indicated they had thought about suicide said they discussed it with no one. Among those who had discussed it with someone, it was most likely to be with a friend. The fact that so few teens actually succeed at suicide may mean that most attempts are really cries for help or a desire to change some situation in a teen's life, rather than a wish to die. Experts speculate that approximately 6-10 adult suicide attempts result in a completed suicide.