[Suggestions made by adolescents to prevent suicide by adolescents (author's transl)]

738 examination papers were collected from adolescents aged 18 to 21 years on the subject of suggestions for preventing adolescents from committing suicide. The persons examined were female trainees for the nursing profession, consulting-room assistants, trainees in midwifery and male nurses undergoing training. The main reasons for suicide stated were a feeling of having been abandoned, or conflicts between the generations (19% each), whereas the main reasons for attempted suicide were stated to be problems connected with school and profession (24%), as well as unrequited or unhappy love (16%). It is actually true that first sexual disappointments or unhappy love accounted for 37% of 438 attempts at suicide in the city of Zürich within a period of 10 years. Continually recurring suggestions of prevention, both generally and specifically, were heart-to-heart talks with persons of the same age, inclusion of outsiders in the group, promotion of self-concept, and recognition as well as building up the personality of the adolescent concerned. The basic trend noticeable in 12 comprehensive suggestions regarding an overall prevention of adolescent suicide is that parents should not belittle their children's problems and worries, that groups of friends should be built up in early childhood, and that tactful sexual education is mandatory.