Suicide is the leading cause of death among adolescents in many European countries. The article reviews the statistical data regarding suicide attempts among adolescents. The three main risk factors for adolescent suicide attempts are identified as life events, comorbidity, and personality characteristics. Next, the article describes the results of a Switzerland-France research project in which 1,491 subjects were assessed regarding how their suicide attempts related to the three main risk factors. Results indicate that life events, dysfunctional families, and poor environment were significantly related with increased risk taking behavior, including drug use and suicidal behavior. The author calls for the careful development of prevention strategies that specifically target the risk factors for adolescent suicide. Tables, figures, references