Year: 1985 Source: Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, v.173, no.2, (February 1985), p.78-83 SIEC No: 19860006

This study of a randomly selected sample of 101 schoolchildren who had no history of previous psychiatric symptomology, showed that approximately 12 % of the children had suicidal impulses. Verbatim statements of the children about their suicidal tendencies are presented. Case vignettes illustrate the common occurrence of parental depression & suicidal behavior & the child’s identification with these depressed parents. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.