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 b...
Suicide prevention resources for parents/guardians/families
This sheet lists websites and online pages that have suicide prevention resources for parents, guardians, and other fam...
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 196 results. Refine results using the filters on the left.
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
LGBTQ Teens Often Struggle to Find Mental Health Care Tailored to Them
2023
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
As Suicide Rates Rise, Bereavement Camps Bring Healing to Kids Left Behind
2023
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Almost Half of Children Who Go to ER With Mental Health Crisis Don’t Get the Follow-Up Care They Need, Study Finds
2023
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
One in Four Black Transgender and Nonbinary Youth Attempted Suicide in Past Year, Survey Finds
2023
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Most LGBTQ Youth Can’t Access Mental Health Care. How Schools Can Help
2023
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
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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Webinar/Training
Jumpstarting Your Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Grant for Cohort 13
2022
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Webinar/Training
Jumpstarting Your Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Grant for Cohort 14
2022
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Many Black Children Are Dying by Suicide, Doctors Say: Understanding the Why—and How to Help
2022
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
School Mental Health Program Eases Transition from Hospital to Classroom
2022
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
“We Are in a State of Emergency”: What's Behind the Rising Suicide Rate among Black Kids
2021
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Why a Focus on Mental Health Is Essential for Students Returning to School in the Fall, Experts Say
2021
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
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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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
"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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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
OHIO: Butler County Students Continue Fighting for Suicide Prevention from Their Homes
2020
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MASSACHUSETTS: Students Often Struggle After a Mental Health Crisis. Can This Support System Help?
2020
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Guidelines/Recommendations
A Model School Policy on Suicide Prevention: Model Language, Commentary and Resources
2019
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Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
National estimate of LGBTQ youth seriously considering suicide
2019
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Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
Preventing Suicide: The Role of High School Mental Health Providers
2019
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
WASHINGTON: Seattle High School's Suicide Prevention Team Helps Save Lives
2019
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Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
Suicide rates for females and males by race and ethnicity: United States, 1999 and 2017
2019
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Coping, Social Support, and Suicide Attempts among Homeless Adolescents
2019
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Manual
Leveraging Funding Sources and Partnerships in Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention
2019
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Number of Children Going to ER with Suicidal Thoughts, Attempts Doubles, Study Finds
2019
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
UNITED KINGDOM: Study Suggests Factors Linked to Teens’ Suicide Attempts
2019
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Showing Compassion, Accepting Cultures: Preventing Suicide in the Latino Community
2019
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
After Suicides of Parkland Survivors, Here's What Educators Should Know About Supporting Students
2019
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Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
Suicide and social media: A tipsheet for parents and providers
2019
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
INTERNATIONAL: Cannabis Use in Teens Raises Risk of Depression in Young Adults
2019
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Two Percent of High School Students Identify as Transgender, CDC Report Finds
2019
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Higher Suicide Rates Evident among Youth Certain Groups of Medicaid Enrollees
2019
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Attempted Suicide among Adolescent Inpatients
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Generation Z Reported the Most Mental Health Problems, and Gun Violence Is the Biggest Stressor
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
CALIFORNIA: Nearly 9 in 10 California School Districts Have Adopted Policies Preventing Youth Suicide
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
PENNSYLVANIA: Making Schools Safer: Trained Security, Attention to Mental Health among Top Recommendations
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
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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Toolkit
Opioid epidemic practical toolkit: Helping faith and community leaders bring hope and healing to our communities
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
What Educators Need to Know About Suicide: Contagion, Complicated Grief, and Supportive Conversations
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Age-Related Racial Disparities in Suicide Rates among Youth Ages 5 to 17 Years
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
PENNSYLVANIA: Teens Push for Better Services, Culture Surrounding Mental Health in Philly Schools
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MICHIGAN: Inside West Bloomfield School’s Attempt to Combat Suicide, Help Students Cope
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
VIRGINIA: These Teens Saw How Poor Mental Health Hurt Their Peers. So They Got a Law Passed.
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
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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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Using Chosen Names Reduces Odds of Depression and Suicide in Transgender Youths
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Suicide Risk after Intentional Self-Harm in Adolescents and Young Adults
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
INTERNATIONAL: Sexual Orientation Top Risk for Suicidal Thoughts in College Freshmen
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Using Awkward Silences for Potentially Life-Saving Conversation about Depression
2018
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Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
Characteristics of homeless individuals using emergency department services in 2014
2017
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
CALIFORNIA: Study Shows Transgender Students Are at Significant Risk for Suicidal Thoughts
2017
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Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
Making the connection: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors and academic grades
2017
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
ARIZONA: Arizona High Schools Add Suicide Prevention Numbers to ID Badges
2017
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MICHIGAN: Oxford High School Students Begin Project Called “13 Reasons Why Not”
2017
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Resource List/Bibliography
Youth suicide and self-harm prevention: 2017 resource guide
2017
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
First of Its Kind Study of "Sexual Minority" Youth Finds Them at Risk of Violence
2016
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
CALIFORNIA: Making an Impact: Drama Students Address Mental Health, Suicide Prevention through Poetry and Skits
2016
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
UTAH: Utah Officials Unsure Why Youth Suicide Rate Has Nearly Tripled since 2007
2016
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
CALIFORNIA: Relying on Each Other: Yurok Tribe Responds to Youth Suicide Crisis
2016
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
COLORADO: Suicide Prevention Program Gives Latina Teens Voice through Art
2016
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
ENGLAND: Survey Identifies ‘Final Straw’ Stressors that May Be Associated with Teen Suicide
2016
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MONTANA: Promising New Youth Suicide Prevention Intervention Program to be Provided in Montana
2016
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
NEW JERSEY: New Jersey teens help create new law for youth to access mental health without parents’ consent
2016
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Article/Chapter
Entrepreneurship education: A strength-based approach to substance use and suicide prevention for American Indian adolescents
2016
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Report
Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program: National outcomes evaluation
2016
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Report
Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program, Evaluation findings, Report to Congress, 2012-2013
2015
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Article/Chapter
Healing of the canoe: Preliminary results of a culturally grounded intervention to prevent substance abuse and promote tribal identity for native youth in two Pacific Northwest tribes
2015
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Report
Leaving a Legacy: Translating SPRC’s Sustainability Recommendations into Action
2015
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Report
Preventing and responding to suicide clusters in American Indian and Alaska Native communities
2014
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Guidelines/Recommendations
Suicide risk in adolescents, adults and older adults: Screening
2014
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Report
Results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health findings and detailed tables
2014
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Report
Measuring associations between symptoms of depression and suicide in adolescence and unhealthy romantic relationships in young adulthood
2013
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Guidelines/Recommendations
Leaving a legacy: Recommendations for sustaining suicide prevention programs
2013
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Report
Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program, Evaluation findings, Annual report to Congress, 2011
2013
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Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
Suicidal behavior among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth
2012
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Article/Chapter
Barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking for young elite athletes: A qualitative study
2012
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Manual
Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program Manual: A Public Health Model for Native American Communities
2011
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Guidelines/Recommendations
Youth suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention guidelines: A resource for school personnel
2009
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