PETER JENSEN, MD: Suicide thinking, or thinking about death and dying, is not a terribly uncommon thing among adolescents. That's correct. It's a very different thing, on the other hand, to actually form a plan, to make a specific attempt. Suicide attempts are relatively common. Completed suicide, of course, is much less common. But again, when it does happen, it's a devastating condition for the family and all involved.
LISA CLARK: What sorts of factors may lead up to a suicide attempt? What can parents be on the lookout for?
PETER JENSEN, MD: In terms of children who actually complete suicide, we know that the greatest risk factors are having a mental health disorder. Sometimes concomitant or co-occurring substance use would put a youth at risk. But depression, probably the single leading cause would be associated with the suicide.
Now there are often precipitants. So while a child might have depression, or a youth might have depression, there may be also a stressful event that happens on top of that depression that seems to be a final, if you will, straw. Sometimes a youth, we know from some situations, will form a plan and say, you know, "If this happens, then that's it, I'm going to do it."
LISA CLARK: Right. Romantic breakups are a common catalyst.
There is a preponderance of white older adolescent males who attempt suicide, or complete suicide. Why do you think that is?
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