Each day, an average of 12 young people commit suicide in the United States, leaving behind devastated family and friends. Most youth show clear signs of their intention to attempt suicide, but too often, those signs go unnoticed,or loved ones don’t know how torespond.“It’s easy to miss the signs if you’re not completely plugged in because kids don’t usuallycome out and say, ‘I feel like I’m going to kill myself.’ It’s much more subtle,” says Lisa Boesky, Ph.D., child/adolescent psychologist and author of “When to Worry: How to Tell if Your Teen Needs Help—and What to Do About It.” “You’ve gotto be plugged intoyour child’s life, so that you can see the change in behavior and notice when things are not going well.”Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds, claiming the lives of 4,600 young people annually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Adolescence is a period of dramatic physiological and social changes, often accompanied by family conflict, romantic breakups and school issues.The extreme pressure tocompete in the classroom and on the field can add to theoverwhelming stress of being ateenager. But these factors alone rarely cause adolescents to take their own lives.“About 90 percent of those who die by suicide have a mental or substance abuse disorder,” says Richard McKeon, Ph.D., chief of the Suicide Prevention Branch atSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Moreaggressive diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and substance abuse could potentially save thousands of lives annually.

One of the most common mental disorders is depression.In some studies, up to 40percent of people who have a major depressive episode have thoughts about suicide, says McKeon.Because suicidal thoughts are often a part of depression,if it is not treated properly, the

risk of suicide increases. While depression is typically described as sadness, loss of energy and hopelessness, it can also manifest itself as

irritability, aggression and acting out. If kids suddenly lose interest in sports or activities they previously enjoyed, parentsshould also pay attention.“Once someone moves from having thoughts about suicide to behavior and has made asuicide attempt, then their risk becomes higher over time,” says McKeon.

Another major risk factor is having a friend or family member who has committed suicide. Experts have long known that people exposed to suicides have a greater risk themselves.However, a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journalshowsthat suicidal thoughts and behavior are especially contagious among younger teens whose peers have taken their own lives, even if they don’t personally know them.