The risk of suicide is a significant factor in all types of depression. Although people also commit suicide for reasons other than depression, estimates are that about 50 to 90 percent of those who complete the act do so during a depressive episode or while in the recovery phase.
A very disturbing trend is that rates of completed suicide among children, while still very low, have been increasing. Suicide in children under age 10 is extremely rare. In children between ages 10 to 14 suicide is also rare in absolute terms but is nevertheless the forth leading cause of death in the U.S for this age group. Children are at increased risk for suicide if they have lost a parent or have been abused. Several forms of psychopathology such as depression, antisocial behavior and high impulsivity are also known to be risk factors for suicide in children.