Perhaps one of the most disturbing aspects of chronic stress in adolescents is that the pressures may seem so great at the time that they feel they are totally unable to cope and end up by committing suicide. In some research a table was produced that can be used to evaluate suicide risk. In this study done in the United States of America, it was estimated that there was a growing trend of adolescent suicides of 237% between 1960 and 1980. There is good reason to be concerned at this staggering increase, a fact borne out in 1968, where suicide was the second most common cause of death among North American teenagers and the most common amongst teenagers in Japan. The table of what are called : 'frequent participants and events preceding adolescent suicidal behaviour' looks like this:

1. Arguments between parents
2. Arguments with parents
3. Loss of parent
4. Divorce of parents
5. Break-up of close relationship
6. Failing grades
7. Loss of interest in usual activities
8. Complaints of boredom

All of this again reinforces the argument about the necessity for a stable home, where love, care and mutual respect is the norm.