Youth with internalizing disorders such as depression,
anxiety, or suicide ideation are not as easily
identified as those with acting-out or externalizing
disorders. Individuals with internalizing conditions
comprise a significant population; the 2003 Youth
Risk Behavior Survey, a nationally representative
sample of more than 15,000 high school students
throughout the United States, found that in the
12-month period preceding the survey, 16.9% had
seriously considered attempting suicide, 16.5% had
made a plan for attempting suicide, 8.5% had attempted
suicide 1 or more times, and 2.9% had made an
attempt requiring medical attention.27 In addition,
studies have shown that students contemplating suicide
or even those who had previous attempts were
not known or detected by school personnel.28 Furthermore,
90% of teens who commit suicide have
a mental health issue at the time of their death but
are usually not receiving treatment.