Tried to determine whether puberty or chronological age or both was associated with the frequency of suicidal ideation (SI). Clinical & demographic data were collected from Ss (n=1060) seen in outpatient clinics. The dependent variable was an SI item in the register of clinical data. 17.5% scored positively on SI & of these 29% had attempted suicide; 14% of males, compared to 22% of females, had SI. Results show that chronological age, rather than puberty, was associated with SI in both sexes.