Suicide is the second leading cause of death for American 15 to 19-year-olds, according to the most recent statistics. But many researchers feel these numbers are underrepresented and that suicide may actually be the number one cause of death for that age group since it is hard to get accurate statistics since many suicides are listed as accidental deaths. Suicide takes more young lives each year than cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung disease combined. With statistics as high as these, we probably all know someone who has either attempted or committed suicide. But what can we, as parents, do to protect our teens against suicidal thoughts or tendencies?

First, we need to realize that most suicidal young people do not what to die