RURAL ADOLESCENTS PERCEIVED PERSONAL RISKS FOR SUICIDE

Rural adolescents' suicidal cognitions were assessed while conducting a larger project on risk perception. This allowed for a more indirect (less reactive) method of assessment than is typical in related resear ch. High school students (n = 455) rated on a 7-point scale their pers onal risks for 24 lethal events, including suicide. Over half the adol escents (56%) reported some risk for suicide, of which 12% reported th at their subjective risk was quite likely. The rates are consistent wi th prevalence rates for suicidal ideations obtained from studies using more direct methods of assessment. Public high school students were s ignificantly more likely to report serious suicide risks than parochia l high school students. This finding is discussed in the context of Du rkheim's proposition that religions deter self destructive impulses.