Toolan points out that, contrary to general opinion, suicidal attempts and suicide are not rare in childhood and adolescence. This paper reports a study of one hundred two children presenting suicidal thoughts and actions, and accounting for eleven percent of all patients under sixteen years of age admitted to Bellevue Hospital in New York City. The author feels that most such cases are a result of 1, anger at another, 2, attempts to manipulate another, 3, a signal of distress, 4, reactions to feelings of inner disintegration, or 5, a desire to join a dead relative.