Now approaching epidemic proportions, suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students and third leading cause of death for teens ages 15-24. Teen suicide has tripled since 1970. In Los Angeles County there is an estimated 300 to 400 teen suicides per year. This number is equivalent to one teenager lost everyday. Evidence shows that every time there is a suicide there are 50 to 100 attempts among teens to commit suicide. For every two homicides in the U.S. there are three suicides. Every hour and forty-five minutes another young teen takes his/her life. Out of every 100,000 children, five will choose suicide before you finish reading this.
             The statistics for teenage suicide are overwhelming. Each year, thousands of children die by their own hand and parents and friends are left to wonder if there was something that could have been done to save them. Why do so many teens kill themselves? I do not think there is a perfect answer to this question. Teenagers, like adults, feel stress and conflicting feelings, which can leave them feeling as if there is no way out.
             There are warning signs to look for. Some danger signs of suicide are:
             • The verbalizing of suicide threats
             • The scratching or marking of the body, or other self-destructive acts
             • Use or increased use of substances
             Some people think that these are just signs of kids with problems, but this is not true. These people do need help and no matter what you may think they have a problem and they need family and friends to help them through it.
             When a friend or a family member talks of suicide no matter what you do never tell them not to talk about it and get it out of their mind. Some things to do when a person talks of suicide are to:
             Listen: Encourage this person to talk to someone that they can trust.
             Be honest: Tell the person how you feel about what they are saying and do not act phony
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