Suicidal tendencies in adolescents begin between the ages of 10 and 19, with warning signs, prevention, treatment and the causes and effects they have on the human psyche. Suicide is when someone decides to take their own life because they suffer from a painful, treatable mental illness and have lost hope in who they are. Because when hope is lost, some think that suicide is the only solution to truly make adolescent pain go away permanently. Scientific evidence showing that people who committed suicide had a diagnosable and treatable mental disorder or substance abuse disorder (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2010). These people may suffer from illnesses such as depression, mood disorders, personality disorders and/or be victims of bullying. Being bullied may be linked to suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescents. Other causes could also include family problems at home, problems at work, at school and/or with classmates. Suicide is a serious problem even if it not only affects the victim, but also affects family members, loved ones and friends. Suicide in adolescents is the third leading cause of death in the United States between the ages of 10 and 19. National Center for Health Statistics, 2012, 292). Adolescents who even think about attempting suicide are mostly those who don't succeed. Women, for example, are more likely than men to attempt suicide by taking excessive doses of sleeping pills or self-harm. Most teenage girls will not succeed in committing suicide. Males, on the other hand, use more drastic methods to commit suicide, adolescent boys usually with a firearm rather than other methamphetamine... middle of paper... people perceive that it is and can be very useful to teenagers by showing them that they are not alone in this battle, no, but that there are others who are fighting it too. Meditation is also a helpful way to reduce stress and emotional reactivity. The final way to prevent bad thoughts from appearing would be to exercise regularly to help improve the teen's mood and eliminate some frustration. In conclusion, suicidal behavior can affect not only the adolescent but also his family. Works Cited Graber & Sontag (2009) Gould et al. (2003) Lauren. (May 20, 2014). Rx for the Mind: 5 Ways to Heal Inner Pain [blog post]. National Center for Health Statistics (2012) National Institute of Mental Health. (2009). Suicide: a serious, preventable mental health problem. Santrock, J. W. (2014). Essentials of development across the life span (3rd ed.). New York, New York: McGraw-Hill.