This review examines a number of risk factors that contribute to suicidal behviour. Primary individual risk factors, cognitive factors, family factors, & environmental factors are discussed. Suicide in high-risk groups, including gay, lesbian, & bisexual youth, homeless & runaway youth, & incarcerated juveniles is examined. The neurobiology of suicide, primary prevention, & treatment research with adolescent suicide attempters are the final topics covered in this review. It is concluded that findings from prevention & interventin studies are modest, indicating the need for substantially more theory-driven treatment research. (119 refs.)