Suicide and suicide attempts in adolescents

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents 15 to 19 years old.(1) Pediatricians can help prevent adolescent suicide by knowing the sy mptoms of depression and other presuicidal behavior. This statement updates the previous statement(2) by the American Academy of Pediatrics and assist s the pediatrician in the identification and management of the adolescent a t risk for suicide. The extent to which pediatricians provide appropriate c are for suicidal adolescents depends on their knowledge, skill, comfort wit h the topic, and ready access to appropriate community resources. All teena gers with suicidal symptoms should know that their pleas for assistance are heard and that pediatricians are willing to serve as advocates to help res olve the crisis.