The senseless murders of two young women from Long Island on the campus of Arizona State University at the hands of a reportedly suicidal young man should be sending up red flags for every parent and family. A recent report describes the incidence of suicide among young people as increasing in the United States.

Although the figures are not alarming, parents, family members, educators and mental health professional should be concerned about the plight of our teenagers and young adults who might show early signs of depression or psychological distress. For many young people just being "young" presents numerous challenges. Concerns about appearance, personal relationships, material possessions and other social expectations all have an impact upon a young person's ability to cope.

In one recent survey of high school students, 60 percent said they had thought about killing themselves. About 9 percent said they had tried at least once. So why has the youth suicide rate gone so high in recent years?

There are many reasons:

• Pressures of modern life are greater (what type of car you own, what designer clothes do you wear, and how big is your flat screen HD television);

• Young people have easy access to the tools associated with suicide (weapons, illegal drugs, prescription drugs);

• Competition for money, sex, and possessions is significant among young people;

• The considerable amount of violence in our mass media (television, music, video games);

• Lack of parental interest due to family dysfunction;

• Catastrophic illness within the family; and

• Extreme financial hardship (unemployment, poverty).

If any of these factors potentially leading to depression or ideas of suicide are familiar within your family, it's probably a good time to talk to your children or seek outside intervention from a guidance counselor, teacher, member of clergy, or mental health professional. Ninety percent of suicidal teenagers believed their families did not understand them. Young people also reported that when they tried to tell their parents about their feelings of unhappiness or failure, their mother and father denied or ignored their point of view.

If your teenager has been depressed, you should look closely for signs that he or she might be thinking of suicide: These would include:

• Dramatic changes in personality;

• Problems in their relationship with a girlfriend or boyfriend;

• Withdrawing from family or social activities;

• Quality of their school work is going down;

• Changes in appearance;

• Frequent psychosomatic complaints of headaches, stomach aches;

• Changes in eating and sleeping habits;

• Giving away some of their most prized possessions;

• Writing notes or poems about death; or

• Talking about suicide, even jokingly - mentioning things such as "That's the last straw," "I can't take it anymore" or "Nobody cares about me." (Threatening to kill oneself precedes four out of five suicidal deaths.)

If you suspect that your teenager might be thinking about suicide, you can't afford to remain silent. Suicide is preventable, but you must act quickly. Ask your teenager about it. Don't be afraid to say the word "suicide."

Getting the word out in the open may help your teenager think someone has heard his/her cries for help. Remind them that no matter how awful the problems seem, they can be worked out, and you are willing to help. Ask your children to talk about their feelings.

If you suspect that your child might be depressed, reach out for help. You can call the Counseling Center at Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services at 822-6111 to speak to a counselor. If you would like to receive a free guide to Suicide Prevention, please email me at ppachter@centralnassau.org.