Andrea Young Ward

Depression and access to firearms are frequently blamed for teen suicides, but Andrea Young Ward maintains in the following viewpoint that many other factors are often involved. She argues that feelings of hopelessness and alienation, homosexuality, concerns about AIDS, and other problems can be overwhelming for teens, who may feel that suicide will stop their pain. Ward also contends that the increasing availability of drugs and alcohol may play a role in the rise in teenage suicide rates. Ward is a freelance writer in Berkeley, California. The names of the suicide survivors in the following viewpoint have been changed to protect their privacy.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What rank does suicide hold as a cause of death among teenagers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as cited...