Suicide is an increasing problem among adolescents. Developmental concerns and inability to resolve problems stemming from feelings of alienation are often at the core of an adolescent's suicide attempt. Nurses can be instrumental in primary prevention by educating the public about persons at risk for suicide, in helping parents deal more effectively with children's growth, and by supporting programs in the school system and other agencies that help young people communicate with others and resolve problems before they become crises. The nurse can also play an important role in secondary prevention through participation in or referral to hotline services, through intervention in the emergency service, or in community mental health programs or inpatient treatment programs. The psychiatric nurse specialist, in particular, can play a very significant role in the treatment of the adolescent in a suicidal crisis and also in consultation with other nurses and professionals who may assess suicidal risk in young people in the community. Finally, tertiary prevention may be necessary to help families and friends resolve their grief over the loss if a family member or close friend has succeeded at a suicide attempt. Feelings of guilt, anxiety, anger, and depression are usually present in the surviving family members of a successful suicide. They need to be given the opportunity to talk about the events leading up to the suicide, their feelings about the persons involved, especially the lost person, and to ventilate their anger, guilt, and sadness. The rising rate of suicide or suicide attempts among this country's adolescents--the third cause of death among adolescents--cries out for stronger support systems for our young people.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)