This paper reviews the needs and conceptual bases of school-based youth suicide prevention programs, summarizes their current status, and recommends objectives, processes, and evaluation strategies for focused educational programs in this area.

In addition, a broad systemic approach is called for that reorganizes the school context to increase students'contributions to and involvement with the educational process.

Such approaches appear to have been effective with a variety of youth deviant behaviors such as dropout and delinquency, and seem to be particularly appropriate to suicidal behavior that is characterized by alienation and withdrawal from social supports.

A combination of these broad and narrow foci may be necessary to address suicidal behavior in the educational context.