In an investigation of a possible relationship between falling perinatal mortality & rising rates of adolescent suicide, 46 risk factors from the prenatal, birth & neonatal records of 52 adolescents who committed suicide before age 20 & two matched controls for each subject were analyzed blind. Significant differences were found between suicide victims & controls & no difference was found between controls. Specific risk factors were respiratory distress & lack of antenatal care. 7 ref.