It is hypothesized that adolescent suicide is only one of a number of self-destructive behavioural responses to intractable, chronic interpersonal stress & conflict. This hypothesis was used as the theoretical basis for the development of the Adolescent Attitude Survey which was administered to 214 6th- & 8th-graders in Chicago Public Schools & 135 students at a Chicago Magnet School. Public school students reported, among other things, significantly more exposure to familial conflict & suicide.