Just exactly what is suicide, Webster’s defines suicide as the act or an instance of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally especially by a person of years of discretion and of sound mind. The oldest known reference to suicide is Egyptian. (Flanders 1991) There are seven suicides in the Old Testament, none of which are criticized in that document. (Flanders 1991)

Throughout history our perspective toward suicide has changed many times. In the New Testament, The suicide of Judas seems to be condoned, it is mentioned without comment in Matthew as a sign of his repentance. (Flanders 1991) It wasn’t till much later that the church claimed that Judas’s suicide was a greater sin than was his betrayal of Jesus Christ. (Flanders 1991)

Early Christianity was strongly attracted toward suicide, perhaps because the act was often indistinguishable from martyrdom, and, “even the death of Jesus was regarded by Tertullian, one of the most fiery of the ear

There is much research on the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for reducing suicidal thoughts or preventing suicide in children and adolescents. Most of the research on pharmacotherapies has been conducted in adults. In depressed adults, SSRIs have been found to reduce suicidal ideation (Wernicke 1997) and to reduce the frequency of suicide attempts in nondepressed patients who had previously made at least one suicide attempt (Wernicke 1997). In a controlled trial of the experimental neuroleptic drug flupenthixol, researchers noted a significant reduction in suicide-attempt behavior in adults who had made numerous previous attempts (Wernicke 1997). Similar studies have yet to be conducted on adolescents, although trials of SSRIs in depressed adolescents suggest that these drugs are effective for treating depression and for reducing suicidal ideas also in this age group (Wernicke 1997). Because placebo-controlled, methodologically appropriate studies of tricyclic antidepressants have failed to find a significant effect in depressed children and adolescents it is reasonable to regard SSRIs as a first-choice medication in treating depressed suicidal children and adolescents. (Wernicke 1997) In contrast to tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs have low lethal potential when taken in overdoses (Wernicke 1997)

Flanders, Stephen A. (1991). Library in a Book: suicide. New York: Facts on File, Inc

Several factors significantly reduced the odds of attempting suicide. Perceived parent and family connectedness was significantly protective for all youth. (Borowsky 2001) For girls, emotional well-being was also protective. (Borowsky 2001)

Causes that Stone (1999) lists as reasons that adolescents commit suicide are: Philosophical Suicide: where schools advocate suicide under certain circumstances. Escape from an unbearable situation: This may be persecution, a terminal illness, or chronic injury. “Anniversary” suicide: This is characterized by the use of the same method or date, as a dead loved one, usually a family member. An attempt to manipulate others: “ if you don’t do what I want, I’ll kill myself” is the basic theme here. Magical thinking and punishment: This is the associated with the feeling of complete power and control, It’s a "you’ll be sorry when I’m dead” fantasy. Lack of an outside source to blame for one’s misery.

American Academy of Pediatrics (Apr 2000), Part 1 of @, Vol 105 Issue 4

Some topics in this essay:
Philosophical Suicide, Australia Zealand, Jesus Christ’s, National Data, Prevention CDC, DSM-IV Depressed, DSM-IV Dysthymic, , Egyptian Flanders, Christ Flanders, pediatrics 2000, children adolescents, wernicke 1997, miller 1992, flanders 1991, stone 1991, risk suicide, borowsky 2001, commit suicide, shaffer 1999, suicidal children adolescents, leading cause death, major depressive disorder, suicide shaffer 1999, disease control prevention,