Described are aspects of severe depression & suicide in children from infancy through adolescence. Depression in infancy is said to be caused by maternal deprivation, resulting in listlessness & delayed development. In children it is seen to be manifested in such behaviors as angry outbursts & multiple physical complaints while in adolescence it is difficult to identify due to characteristic wide swings of mood but it is stressed that this age (15-25) is a peak period for suicide.