Most people feel that teen suicide is a tragic element of human existence. Many people, rich or poor, male or female--including the very old or sick--have resorted to suicide to escape internal darkness or external oppression, or continual pain from illness.
But teen suicide is a fairly modern tragedy.
"Rates for suicide among youths ages 15 to 24 rose dramatically in the latter half of the 20th century, increasing more than 200 percent from the 1950's to the late 1970's" says Lanny Berman, Ph.D., executive director of the American Association of Suicidology, in Washington, D.C.
Since then, suicide rates have remained stable. But it is still the third leading cause of death among young people.
