This article is suitable for a general audience. This article examines the frequency, timing, & type of life events that preceeded suicide in young people. The study group was set into 2 groups, those with or without a mental illness. Informants were interviewed for a sample of 84 young suicides aged 13-34 years. The results of the study indicate that suicide was associated with life events in the previous 3 months, & particularly in the previous week. The study also found that suicides without a severe mental illness usually had a reported life event in the week before death. The article concludes with recommendations for suicide prevention strategies. (21 refs.) (AK)