Explain why an adolescent might attempt suicide. Are there ethnic and/or sex differences? If so, what are they?

What will be an ideal response?

As in adulthood, most suicides in adolescence are linked to feelings of depression and
hopelessness. In some ways, the cognitive expansiveness that accompanies
adolescence (formal operational thinking, flexible thinking, the ability to foresee the
implications of one's actions), may exacerbate, if not lead to, these negative feelings.
Poor problem-solving skills have also been linked to teen suicide. In a sense, teens may
not perceive any other way out of a difficult situation (such as having been arrested or
failing a class). Overall, more females attempt suicide, but more males are likely to
succeed. This may be due, in large part, to the methods employed. Males are more
likely to employ suicide methods that are rapid and deadly (a gun versus sleeping pills).
Native-American adolescents are significantly more likely to attempt suicide (17%)
than any other American ethnic group. African-American teens are least likely to
attempt or commit suicide.