Suicide rate in young people has been increasing. Suicide is uncommon in children under the age of 10 but its incidence increases after the onset of puberty and peaks at young adulthood. There are many more attempted suicides than compleated suicides. There is an increased risk if the youth has a previous history of attempted suicide. Many completed suicides are well planned with the youths intending to kill themselves.
Suicide has major impact on family members and the youth's peers.
It can't happen to my teenage child. Talking about suicidal intent will lead to suicide. Suicide attempt is a manipulative behaviour and therefore should be ignored or even punished. Suicides occur only in lower socio-economic groups. Suicides come out of the blue with little or no warning.