"Two teenagers burst into their Colorado high school one year ago this

month and gunned down thirteen people. But nearly lost in the avalanche of

reaction to the shootings at Columbine High School was the fact that the young

men were on a suicide mission" (Portner 1). Although most suicidal teens don't

kill themselves after carrying through with such a horrific event, suicide among

teens is a severe problem the nation is being forced to face.

Every year, thousands of youths die in North America, as a result of their

own hand. Even deaths involving cancer or those killed in car accidents do not

match the percentage of teens who take their own lives ("Epidemic" 2). Over the

course of the 1998-1999 school year; eight students committed homicides in

schools, and twenty-six students died in school-related violence. That same

year, an estimated 2,700 youth, aged ten to nineteen took their own lives.

(Portner 2) However, not all teen suicide attempts are successful; Out of the

500,000 teenagers who try to kill themselves only 5,000 succeed. ("Epidemic" 3).

This number is still considerably high. Suicide is currently the third leading cause

of death for fifteen to twenty-five year olds (Warren 1) and fifty percent of

highschool students say they have seriously considered suicide by the time they

graduate (Portner 2). These alarming statistics prove adolescent suicide has

become an immense problem striking the nation.

Teen suicide is approached more comfortably when one has witnessed

suicide by a family member or close friend (Conner 5). One case of teenage

depression ended in suicide. The victim, Mike, reportedly told his friend he had

lost the fear, and that day took his life. Six out of eight of Mike's close friends

said they also no longer feared death. (Hutchins 5) Once the fear of dying

dissipates, the predominant roadblock preventing anyone from taking his or her

own life has been effectively removed (Chiles 93).

Suicidal behavior among teens tends to be associated with greater family

conflict and with less family organization (Bergman 34). Children need their

parents in their lives the most in their teen years yet amazingly parental

involvement drops during the adolescent years. On average a parent spends

just two minutes a day communicating with their teen (Chiles 117). This lack of

communication often leads teens to feel unloved possibly leading them to

attempt or commit suicide. For some teens, divorce, the formation of a new

family with step-parents and step-siblings can be very unsettling and can

intensify self-doubts. In some cases, suicide appears to be a solution. (Portner

9) In fact, seventy percent of teens who have committed suicide had divorced

parents (Hutchins 3). Sociologists' show a connection specifically between

divorce and teen suicide. They found not only that the rate of teen suicide grew

with the divorce rate, but it also decreased proportionately when the divorce rate

decreased (Portner 9). The dissolution of a two parent family, whether from

divorce or desertion of parents makes teens more vulnerable. Ultimately it is the

quality of the parenting, not the constitution of the family unit, that matters most

The media and music substantially contribute to teen suicide rates. The

media simply reporting suicides has contributed to several teens suicidal

behavior and suicidal actions (Portner 6). Movies and television also contribute

to teens successfully carrying through with their suicidal desires (Chiles 47). In

1986 the New England Journal of Medicine published two studies showing a

connection between suicides being broadcasted and teen suicide rates (Hutchins

4). One study demonstrated the impact of television shows that accentuated

suicide. The study found notably more teens committing and attempting suicide

in the area following two weeks after the broadcasting of three television movies

on suicide. The second study showed a marked increase in teen suicides the

following week of the national news broadcasts about suicide. (Hutchins 5) On

April 5 1994, three teenagers favorite rock star, Kurt Cobain shot himself in the

head. Six months later, the three committed suicide by carbon monoxide

poisoning, while listening to a Kurt Cobain tape (Hutchins 3). There is no

debate that music, movies and television have become much more shocking and

violent in recent years (Portner 10) the act