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 122 results. Refine results using the filters on the left.
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Poor Mental Health in U.S. Teens Exacerbated by Negative Experiences during Covid-19 Pandemic, Survey Finds
2022
Read more
Webinar/Training
Pre-application Webinar: Cooperative Agreements to Implement Zero Suicide in Health Systems
2022
Read more
Webinar/Training
Jumpstarting Your Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Grant for Cohort 13
2022
Read more
Webinar/Training
Jumpstarting Your Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Grant for Cohort 14
2022
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Many Black Children Are Dying by Suicide, Doctors Say: Understanding the Why—and How to Help
2022
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
School Mental Health Program Eases Transition from Hospital to Classroom
2022
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
“We Are in a State of Emergency”: What's Behind the Rising Suicide Rate among Black Kids
2021
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Why a Focus on Mental Health Is Essential for Students Returning to School in the Fall, Experts Say
2021
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
NEW YORK: How a Hospital and a School District Teamed Up to Help Kids in Emotional Crisis
2021
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Sharp Uptick Seen in Suspected Suicide Attempts among Teenage Girls: CDC
2021
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Facing a Broken Mental Health System, Many U.S. Teens Fall Off a Dangerous “Cliff” in Their Care
2020
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
"We're Losing Our Kids": Black Youth Suicide Rate Rising Far Faster than for Whites; Coronavirus, Police Violence Deepen Trauma
2020
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
OHIO: Butler County Students Continue Fighting for Suicide Prevention from Their Homes
2020
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MASSACHUSETTS: Students Often Struggle After a Mental Health Crisis. Can This Support System Help?
2020
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
WASHINGTON: Seattle High School's Suicide Prevention Team Helps Save Lives
2019
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Coping, Social Support, and Suicide Attempts among Homeless Adolescents
2019
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Number of Children Going to ER with Suicidal Thoughts, Attempts Doubles, Study Finds
2019
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
UNITED KINGDOM: Study Suggests Factors Linked to Teens’ Suicide Attempts
2019
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Showing Compassion, Accepting Cultures: Preventing Suicide in the Latino Community
2019
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
After Suicides of Parkland Survivors, Here's What Educators Should Know About Supporting Students
2019
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
INTERNATIONAL: Cannabis Use in Teens Raises Risk of Depression in Young Adults
2019
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Two Percent of High School Students Identify as Transgender, CDC Report Finds
2019
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Higher Suicide Rates Evident among Youth Certain Groups of Medicaid Enrollees
2019
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Attempted Suicide among Adolescent Inpatients
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Generation Z Reported the Most Mental Health Problems, and Gun Violence Is the Biggest Stressor
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
CALIFORNIA: Nearly 9 in 10 California School Districts Have Adopted Policies Preventing Youth Suicide
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
PENNSYLVANIA: Making Schools Safer: Trained Security, Attention to Mental Health among Top Recommendations
2018
Read more
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
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
What Educators Need to Know About Suicide: Contagion, Complicated Grief, and Supportive Conversations
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Age-Related Racial Disparities in Suicide Rates among Youth Ages 5 to 17 Years
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
PENNSYLVANIA: Teens Push for Better Services, Culture Surrounding Mental Health in Philly Schools
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MICHIGAN: Inside West Bloomfield School’s Attempt to Combat Suicide, Help Students Cope
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
VIRGINIA: These Teens Saw How Poor Mental Health Hurt Their Peers. So They Got a Law Passed.
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
INTERNATIONAL: Young Victims of Cyberbullying Twice as Likely to Attempt Suicide and Self-Harm
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MONTANA: Arlee’s “Warrior Movement” Brings Suicide Prevention to Great Falls
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Using Chosen Names Reduces Odds of Depression and Suicide in Transgender Youths
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Suicide Risk after Intentional Self-Harm in Adolescents and Young Adults
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
INTERNATIONAL: Sexual Orientation Top Risk for Suicidal Thoughts in College Freshmen
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Using Awkward Silences for Potentially Life-Saving Conversation about Depression
2018
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
CALIFORNIA: Study Shows Transgender Students Are at Significant Risk for Suicidal Thoughts
2017
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
ARIZONA: Arizona High Schools Add Suicide Prevention Numbers to ID Badges
2017
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MICHIGAN: Oxford High School Students Begin Project Called “13 Reasons Why Not”
2017
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
First of Its Kind Study of "Sexual Minority" Youth Finds Them at Risk of Violence
2016
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
CALIFORNIA: Making an Impact: Drama Students Address Mental Health, Suicide Prevention through Poetry and Skits
2016
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
UTAH: Utah Officials Unsure Why Youth Suicide Rate Has Nearly Tripled since 2007
2016
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
CALIFORNIA: Relying on Each Other: Yurok Tribe Responds to Youth Suicide Crisis
2016
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
COLORADO: Suicide Prevention Program Gives Latina Teens Voice through Art
2016
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
ENGLAND: Survey Identifies ‘Final Straw’ Stressors that May Be Associated with Teen Suicide
2016
Read more
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MONTANA: Promising New Youth Suicide Prevention Intervention Program to be Provided in Montana
2016
Read more