Adolescence is neither carefree nor more dreadful but encompasses times of joy and sorrow. Parents often regard suicide by one of these carefree youths as a personal failure (Ray & Johnson, 1983). The overwhelming guilt results in long-term problems for friends and family alike. A danger in this situation is that peers of the youth who died--peers who may also be at great risk of suicide--are not recognized as being at-risk.

* Myth: Those people who talk about committing suicide never do (Allen, 1987).

Studies indicate as many as 60% of persons who commit suicide have made some definite prior statement as to their intent. Because of the unpredictable outcome, no threat should be taken lightly.

* Myth: A suicidal "type" of person exists.

Suicide knows no class or distinction.

* Myth: Suicidal youth are fully intent on dying.

Most suicidal youth are undecided about living or dying and they "gamble with death," leaving it to others to save them (Schneidman, 1985).

* Myth: Once a youth is suicidal, he is suicidal forever.

Most individuals who wish to kill themselves are suicidal only for a limited period of time.

* Myth: Improvement following a suicidal crisis means that the suicidal risk is over.

Most suicides occur within about three months following the beginning of "improvement," when the individual has the energy to put his/her morbid thoughts and feelings into effect (Ross & Lee, undated).

* Myth: All suicidal youths are mentally ill.

Although the suicidal person is extremely unhappy, that youth is probably not mentally ill (Schneidman, 1987).

About one-third of teenage suicide victims are known to have made a previous suicide attempt.

One-third abuse drugs and alcohol

Approximately half of at-risk teens experience intense mood changes and aggressive outbursts. This behavior may coexist with periods of depression.

The most common emotion felt by suicidal persons is depression. The depressed adolescent, however, almost always keeps the depression concealed.

A subgroup exists of teen suicide victims who have not previously appeared to be suicidal. But such teens have worried a great deal about getting this "just right." They may have been excessively anxious before tests and unreasonably upset at time of change and on moving to a new home or school.

Biochemical abnormalities consisting of low levels of serotonin have been consistently identified among suicidal aggressive or impulsive teens.

Suicide is familial--but it is not know if this is due to modeling of behavior of another family member or due to a genetic factor. Evidence is accumulating to show that imitation may be an important facilitator of suicidal behavior among youth.

The components of a comprehensive program of suicide prevention within the community at large include awareness, education and mobilization efforts. Three basic assumptions guide a community-school partnership:

1. An effective youth suicide awareness and prevention education program must involve all faction of a community which are concerned for the welfare of the youth in that community.

2. Such a prevention effort must involve all members of the school community--administrators, educators, parents and students.

3. The talents of the community at large, the mental health community and the school community must join into a working partnership to maximize the effectiveness of a youth suicide prevention program.

This issue of Ups & Downs was contributed by Mary Pilat, Ph.D., Associate Professor of 4-H, Purdue University. Ups & Downs is edited by Stephen T. Russell, Ph.D., Assistant Youth Development Cooperative Extension Specialist, University of California, Davis.