A brief version of this article appears in the Pennsylvania Psychologist Quarterly, August, 1999. According to recent statistics, the death rate from homicide for teens 15 through 19 doubled between 1970 and 1994 to 20 per 100,000. It has also doubled for children 10 through 14 . For African American males, the homicide rate was 136 per 100,000 - nine times that of white males the same age .
Suicide is also a leading cause of death for young people .
And almost 10 percent reported actually attempting suicide. Many teens who believe their problems to be unsolvable, become so despairing that they attempt suicide and many succeed. Although other causes of teen suicide and violence exist, depression is a major factor. Manic-depressive disorder also begins in post puberty and may be manifested by impulsive episodes, irritability and loss of control alternating with periods of withdrawal and excessive sleeping. If these behavioral signs are considered by parents and professionals as natural to adolescence, the disorders go unrecognized and untreated.