MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS generally look for psychological causes to explain teen suicide, but other factors that may contribute to teen suicide are not directly related to mental health. Among the more hotly debated factors are the influence of mass media, substance abuse, and the availability of guns. The perceived relationship between these issues and teen suicide has prompted a number of teen advocacy groups to call for tighter government controls in these areas.

Is the media responsible"

In recent decades, suicide researchers have focused on the possible influence of the media on teen suicide. Some teens, these researchers claim, are negatively affected by newscasts, fictional portrayals, or messages about suicide in television, film, and music. This suggestion polarizes the debate into two camps: those arguing for strict government control of the media and those championing free speech issues.

Media watchers accuse television and film...