Summary of the National Conference on Risk Factors for Youth Suicide (IN: Report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Youth Suicide. Volume 2: Risk Factors for Youth Suicide)

The Task Force on Youth Suicide convened a conference on Risk Factors for Youth Suicide in May 1986, in Bethesda, Maryland. This article highlights points the presenters made which were either not discussed completely at the conference of could benefit from further emphasis. Some of the points deal with prepatory & prior suicidal behavior, social & cultural factors, contagion, stress & life events, & biological factors. A discussion on the merits of different models of risk is included. (CM)