Adolescents
Adolescence is a time of change, when young people may experience stress from many sources, including relationships with friends and family members and problems at school. Many high school students report thinking about suicide,1 and in 2014, suicide was the second leading cause of death among young people ages 13 to 19 years.2
Risk and Protective Factors
Suicide prevention efforts seek to reduce the suicide risk factors for teens and strengthen the factors that help protect them from suicide. Here are a few examples:
Risk factors
- Depression and other mental health problems
- Alcohol or drug use
- Feelings of social isolation
- Difficult life situations (abuse, bullying, poverty)
Protective factors
- Life skills (problem-solving, coping)
- Social support from family, friends, and others
- Positive school experiences
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Trends in the prevalence of suicide-related behavior, national YRBS: 1991–2014. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/trends/us_suicide_trend_yr…
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Leading causes of death reports, national and regional, 1999–2014. Retrieved from webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/leadcaus10_us.html
Learn More
- See the Recommended Resources below selected by SPRC personnel.
- See All Resources Related to Adolescents for a full list of materials, programs, trainings, and other information available from SPRC. Use the filters on the left to narrow your results.
- For more on other groups and settings, see our Populations and Settings pages.
Recommended Resources
Preventing suicide: A toolkit for high schools
This toolkit provides information on how to reduce suicide risk among high school students....
Preventing Suicide: The Role of High School Teachers
This sheet provides information and resources on suicide prevention for high school teachers....
Suicide prevention resources for teens
This sheet lists websites with suicide prevention resources for teens at risk for suicide or who have friends who may be...
Suicide prevention resources for parents/guardians/families
This sheet lists websites and online pages that have suicide prevention resources for parents, guardians, and other fami...
Foster care providers: Helping youth at risk of suicide
This SPRC information sheet addresses suicide prevention among youth in foster care....
All Resources Related to Adolescents
Displaying 128 results. Refine results using the filters on the left.
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
One in Four Black Transgender and Nonbinary Youth Attempted Suicide in Past Year, Survey Finds
2023
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Most LGBTQ Youth Can’t Access Mental Health Care. How Schools Can Help
2023
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Poor Mental Health in U.S. Teens Exacerbated by Negative Experiences during Covid-19 Pandemic, Survey Finds
2022
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Webinar/Training
Pre-application Webinar: Cooperative Agreements to Implement Zero Suicide in Health Systems
2022
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Jumpstarting Your Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Grant for Cohort 13
2022
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Jumpstarting Your Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Grant for Cohort 14
2022
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Many Black Children Are Dying by Suicide, Doctors Say: Understanding the Why—and How to Help
2022
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School Mental Health Program Eases Transition from Hospital to Classroom
2022
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“We Are in a State of Emergency”: What's Behind the Rising Suicide Rate among Black Kids
2021
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Why a Focus on Mental Health Is Essential for Students Returning to School in the Fall, Experts Say
2021
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NEW YORK: How a Hospital and a School District Teamed Up to Help Kids in Emotional Crisis
2021
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Sharp Uptick Seen in Suspected Suicide Attempts among Teenage Girls: CDC
2021
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Facing a Broken Mental Health System, Many U.S. Teens Fall Off a Dangerous “Cliff” in Their Care
2020
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"We're Losing Our Kids": Black Youth Suicide Rate Rising Far Faster than for Whites; Coronavirus, Police Violence Deepen Trauma
2020
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OHIO: Butler County Students Continue Fighting for Suicide Prevention from Their Homes
2020
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MASSACHUSETTS: Students Often Struggle After a Mental Health Crisis. Can This Support System Help?
2020
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WASHINGTON: Seattle High School's Suicide Prevention Team Helps Save Lives
2019
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Coping, Social Support, and Suicide Attempts among Homeless Adolescents
2019
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Number of Children Going to ER with Suicidal Thoughts, Attempts Doubles, Study Finds
2019
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UNITED KINGDOM: Study Suggests Factors Linked to Teens’ Suicide Attempts
2019
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Showing Compassion, Accepting Cultures: Preventing Suicide in the Latino Community
2019
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After Suicides of Parkland Survivors, Here's What Educators Should Know About Supporting Students
2019
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INTERNATIONAL: Cannabis Use in Teens Raises Risk of Depression in Young Adults
2019
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Two Percent of High School Students Identify as Transgender, CDC Report Finds
2019
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Higher Suicide Rates Evident among Youth Certain Groups of Medicaid Enrollees
2019
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Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Attempted Suicide among Adolescent Inpatients
2018
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Generation Z Reported the Most Mental Health Problems, and Gun Violence Is the Biggest Stressor
2018
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CALIFORNIA: Nearly 9 in 10 California School Districts Have Adopted Policies Preventing Youth Suicide
2018
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PENNSYLVANIA: Making Schools Safer: Trained Security, Attention to Mental Health among Top Recommendations
2018
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ILLINOIS: Teens Are Anxious and Depressed, and Turning to the School Nurse for Help. But Most Illinois Schools Don’t Have One.
2018
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What Educators Need to Know About Suicide: Contagion, Complicated Grief, and Supportive Conversations
2018
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Age-Related Racial Disparities in Suicide Rates among Youth Ages 5 to 17 Years
2018
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PENNSYLVANIA: Teens Push for Better Services, Culture Surrounding Mental Health in Philly Schools
2018
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MICHIGAN: Inside West Bloomfield School’s Attempt to Combat Suicide, Help Students Cope
2018
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VIRGINIA: These Teens Saw How Poor Mental Health Hurt Their Peers. So They Got a Law Passed.
2018
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INTERNATIONAL: Young Victims of Cyberbullying Twice as Likely to Attempt Suicide and Self-Harm
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MONTANA: Arlee’s “Warrior Movement” Brings Suicide Prevention to Great Falls
2018
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Using Chosen Names Reduces Odds of Depression and Suicide in Transgender Youths
2018
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Suicide Risk after Intentional Self-Harm in Adolescents and Young Adults
2018
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INTERNATIONAL: Sexual Orientation Top Risk for Suicidal Thoughts in College Freshmen
2018
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Using Awkward Silences for Potentially Life-Saving Conversation about Depression
2018
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CALIFORNIA: Study Shows Transgender Students Are at Significant Risk for Suicidal Thoughts
2017
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ARIZONA: Arizona High Schools Add Suicide Prevention Numbers to ID Badges
2017
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MICHIGAN: Oxford High School Students Begin Project Called “13 Reasons Why Not”
2017
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First of Its Kind Study of "Sexual Minority" Youth Finds Them at Risk of Violence
2016
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CALIFORNIA: Making an Impact: Drama Students Address Mental Health, Suicide Prevention through Poetry and Skits
2016
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UTAH: Utah Officials Unsure Why Youth Suicide Rate Has Nearly Tripled since 2007
2016
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CALIFORNIA: Relying on Each Other: Yurok Tribe Responds to Youth Suicide Crisis
2016
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COLORADO: Suicide Prevention Program Gives Latina Teens Voice through Art
2016
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ENGLAND: Survey Identifies ‘Final Straw’ Stressors that May Be Associated with Teen Suicide
2016
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MONTANA: Promising New Youth Suicide Prevention Intervention Program to be Provided in Montana
2016
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