Teen suicide is not an uncommon event. Every year, about five hundred thousand teenagers try to take their own life. Out of those five hundred thousand, five thousand succeed. Surprisingly, it is the third leading cause of deaths in the United States for people between fifteen and twenty-five years old.

When a person commits suicide everyone is affected. Not only friends and family, but outsiders as well. Feelings of guilt, grief and sorrow consume the hearts of family, friends, neighbors and even people who did not know the person. They are all united by the thought of � What if I would have done something differently.�

The percentage for a girl to take her own life is twice as high as boys. A girl would most likely overdoes on drugs or cut herself to death. A boy on the other hand, would be more likely to take his life faster, using a more lethal approach such as a firearm, jumping or hanging himself. Though girls are more likely to attempt at suicide, boys are more likely to succeed. A boy is four times more likely to succeed than a girl is. Just about sixty percent of all suicides within the United States are committed with a gun.

All teens are at a risk for suicide, though there are some if not many who are at an increased risk for suicide. A child who experiences domestic violence is more likely to fall into a depression and eventually

commit suicide than a child who has a healthy family life. Children who have a difficult time coping with divorce and diseases such as alcoholism are also at a higher risk. Because depressive illnesses may have a genetic component, some teens may be predisposed to suffer major depression. When something of this sort runs in the family, it may not always be cured as easily as something that has developed on its own may. A teenager who deals with his feeling in a violent fit has emotional instability. This may eventually lead to a suicidal incidence if not taken care of at an early stage.

Several studies have already proven that gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth are at a greater rate of suicide attempts than among their heterosexual peers. Unsupportive family members and friends provide a hostile environment for the homosexual individual. An unreceptive school environment makes it nearly impossible for a homosexual to lead a healthy life. The name calling and teasing goes beyond what is expected, and into unthinkable boundaries.

Problems that may seem simple to one may be impossible to deal with for an unbalanced individual. In many cases, a problem so insignificant compared to the rest of the world, may initially spark a want for an end to life. For a person as young as fifteen or sixteen, a problem such as Failure at school, breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the death of a loved one or even their parents' divorce may lead to not knowing where or who to turn to for help.

Warning signs are not always easy to spot, but once seen, action should be taken to provide help. An inability to concentrate, too much or too little sleep, dramatic changes in personal appearance, or even a loss in interest for favorite activities are all signs of a suicidal person. Yet, it still all depends to the extent these signs are taken to, along with the personality of the person. An exhibit in self-destructive behavior is a large sign of suicide thinking. An example of this type of behavior would be reckless driving, drug abuse, or promiscuity.

Low self-esteem may eventually lead to not having a hope for the future. A feeling of overwhelming shame or guilt or feeling worthless will in time direct to the feeling of not wanting to go on. �Everyone will be better off without me,� is very dangerous and powerful thing to say. It may be the start of a depression. Believing that things will never get better and that nothing will ever change is a sign of low self esteem as well.

Three quarters of all people who attempt suicide have given some type of warning to loved ones. Always express your love, concern, and support towards people who are crying out for help or simply leaving minute clues. Never postpone seeing a doctor. Treatment should always be started immediately. Depression should also be evaluated first. Express to your loved ones that help is available.

Depression and Suicide is not a game. It should be taken very seriously. Warning signs should be looked for, and actions should be taken immediately. It is not something a person should joke around with. It is one of the top ten leading causes of death in the country. It affects everyone and changes most peoples views on life.

�Diagnosis on Juliet�

Juliet showed many warning signs about depression, which eventually would lead, to her death. Though some of them were not as clear and obvious as others, a person who was close to her could have spotted them. She spoke about death and no hope for the future very often throughout the play. Juliet even took action about suicide when she was with Friar Lawrence, ��Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife.� �Be not so long to speak; I long to die.� (Act 4, scene 1, li 62)(Act 4, scene 1, li 66) Though Juliet was upset at the moment and she may have been overreacting in what she said, the truth was behind her speaking.

When her mother and the nurse were tucking Juliet into bed she began talking about how she does not know when they will see each other again. �Farewell! G-d knows when we shall meet again.� (Act 4, scene 2, li 14) Juliet was showing warning signs of her death. She was explaining that she does not know if her life will go on and weather or not she will wake up again.

Juliet was not a very levelheaded teenager. Often, she was very dramatic and not level headed. She was simply an average teenager turning into a woman with many questions and much confusion going through. All the confusion lead to a sudden depression. Soon after she was drifting deeper and deeper into her depression, she eventually took her own life away.