NEW YORK -- It happens every day, and with alarming frequency. Adolescent suicide is a serious problem in every country, and Japan is no exception. An estimated 30,000 Japanese of all ages kill themselves each year.
In the United States, teen suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. A U.S. survey found that almost one in five high school students had seriously considered attempting suicide, and more than one in six had already made plans to commit suicide.
Several environmental and social situations can have an impact on adolescents' health. Among those situations are the following: extreme poverty; an unfavorable family situation; factors related to employment possibilities and those that result from a clash between the new life values acquired by the youth and traditional family values.