STATISTICS FROM THE NETHERLANDS SHOW THAT SUICIDES AMONG GIRLS UNDER AGE 15 RANGE FROM 0.07 PERCENT TO 0.23 PERCENT OF REPORTED SUICIDES, DEPENDING UPON YEAR, WHILE FIGURES FOR BOYS RANGE FROM 0.24 TO 0.94 PERCENT. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT MANY SUICIDES ARE LISTED AS ACCIDENTS BECAUSE BOTH PARENTS AND DOCTORS DO NOT WISH TO ADMIT THAT THE CHILD DELIBERATELY SOUGHT TO TAKE HIS OR HER OWN LIFE. CASE STUDIES EXAMINE THE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESSES WHICH LEAD TO SUICIDE AMONG CHILDREN. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE IDENTIFIES A NUMBER OF SOCIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS RELATED TO SELF-KILLING AND FINDS THAT THIS PHENOMENON IS DIVIDED INTO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS BY VARIOUS RESEARCHERS. AMONG CHILDREN, 'SOMACIDAL' THINKING IS RELATED TO PROBLEMSOLVING WITHOUT TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF DEATH AND TRUE SUICIDE WITH DEATH AS AN INTENTIONAL OUTCOME. THE CASE OF THE TERMINALLY ILL CHILD IS ALSO CONSIDERED AS IS THE 'WEATHER SYNDROME,' OR SUICIDE AS IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR. THE LAW BECOMES INVOLVED PRIMARILY IN CASES OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. IT IS URGED, HOWEVER, THAT THE COURTS BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE THAN THOSE LIVING IN A FAMILY SITUATION. IT IS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT CHILDREN IN DISTRESSED FAMILIES OFTEN RESORT TO SUICIDE AS A LAST DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO GAIN THE PARENTS' LOVE AND ATTENTION. LAWYERS ARE URGED TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, TO WORK FOR REFORM OF EDUCATIONAL AND CHILD WELFARE LAWS WHICH ISOLATE A CHILD AND ADD TO STRESS, AND TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF HELP AVAILABLE TO THE DISTRESSED CHILD AND DISTRESSED FAMILY. STATISTICAL TABLES ARE INCLUDED. EXTENSIVE REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)