Suicidal behaviour and suicidal ideation in adolescents: A problem for counsellors in education

Some of the research findings on the prevalence, causes and possible prevention of suicidal behaviour and suicidal ideation in adolescents, including students, are reviewed. Both completed and attempted suicide (parasuicide) in teenagers is increasing. A number of factors appear to be associated with suicidal behaviour: cultural factors such as those arising from the stresses of discrimination; disorganised and unstable family life, especially that which involves the child in early separation from a parent; sexual imbalances in educational institutions; and an increase in anomie which is associated in the young with a variety of self-indulgent behaviour. Some data on suicidal ideation in a sample of English adolescents are reported, with suggestions for using such questionnaire data for identifying teenagers in need of counselling.