CHILDREN AT RISK

These are the categories of youths who may be at risk for suicide, according to Michael Peck, a Westwood psychologist who is director of the Suicide Prevention Program at the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center:

Youths with low self-esteem.

Youths who are depressed. The depression may come and go for several months or continue for up to two years. Symptoms of clinical depression in young people include withdrawal, fatigue, low self-confidence and thoughts of dying.

Youths who are loners.

Those who are in trouble with the law. This category could include young shoplifters who may steal not just to have a desired object--an expensive purse or the like--but for the momentary thrill that will relieve their underlying boredom or depression.

Youths who have been abused or molested. Children abused when they are between the ages of 5 and 9 may become suicidal between the ages of 15 and 20.

Youths who are involved with drugs or alcohol. Impulsive youngsters who drink alcohol may exhibit lethally self-destructive behavior. In addition, youths coming out of a heroin- or PCP-induced “high” may become suicidal.

Youths with learning disabilities. They may be teased by their peers about their problem and feel ashamed and could be at risk for suicide.

Those who are obsessive, compulsive perfectionists. Included here are highly successful honor students who, if they fail to reach their ideal goal--getting on the varsity track team or being accepted by Stanford--may plunge into despair and kill themselves and sometimes others with them. A minority of teen-age suicides are in this category, but “these are the group who get the headlines,” Peck said.