As the third largest cause of death between the ages of 15 and 24, the adolescent suicide rate has tripled since 1960. This is the only age group in which an increase has occurred over the last three decades. Lastly, there between 100,000 and 200,000 adolescent suicide attempts and gestures each year. Depressed adolescents frequently communicate their despair before they act out in this final act of desparation.
Teens tend to reflect their dysphoria with action rather than words.
For example, they are inclined to withdraw from others, complain of boredom and have an increasingly difficult time concentrating. School performance tends to suffer and changes in personality may include increased aggression. A pre-occupation with death also suggest serious disturbance. Some teens will attempt to straighten out their affairs, exemplified by returning long overdue library books or by giving away prized possessions, before acting out. Common motivational factors that play into teen suicide are self punishment and retaliatory abandonment.