2001.1 Teen Suicide Suicides among young people nationwide have increased dramatically in recent years. Each year in the U.S., thousands of teenagers commit suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youths 15 to 24 years old, and the sixth leading cause of death for youngsters 5 to 14 years old.
Teenagers experience strong feelings of stress, confusion, and self-doubt.
There also may be pressure to succeed, financial uncertainty, and other fears while growing up. For some teenagers, divorce, the formation of a new family with stepparents and stepsiblings, or moving to a new community can be very unsettling and can intensify self-doubts. In some cases, suicide appears to be a solution. 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 need to be developed.