Warning signs of suicide in teens and young adults

Teenagers or young adults may give hints that they are considering suicide. Signs to watch for include:

• Depression or another mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) or schizophrenia.
• Alcohol or substance abuse.
• Preoccupation with death in conversation, writing, or drawing.
• Recent breakup of a love relationship.
• Few or no friends or rejection by peers.
• Writing or leaving suicide notes.
• Accident-prone or risk-taking behavior, such as reckless or drunk driving or sexual promiscuity.
• Problems at school, such as failing grades, disruptive behavior, or frequent unexcused absences.
• Possession or purchase of a weapon, pills, or other means of inflicting self-harm.
• Aggressive or hostile behavior.
• Running away from home.

Other factors that may contribute to thoughts of suicide include:

• Knowledge of a suicide or suicide attempt by a friend, parent, peer, or hero, such as a sports figure, movie star, or musician.
• Unrealistically high expectations by a parent.
• An alcohol or substance abuse problem in a parent or close friend.
• Loss of a parent through death or divorce.
• Disruptive or abusive family life.
• Feelings of bisexuality or homosexuality.
• History of physical or sexual abuse.