Commissioned papers by a work group on risk factors for youth suicide, which examined environmental, behavioral, socio-cultural, biological, and psychological factors associated with an increased likelihood of suicide among young people are presented in this document. The following papers are presented: (1) "Sociodemographic, Epidemiologic, and Individual Attributes" (Paul C. Holinger and Daniel Offer); (2) "Preparatory and Prior Suicidal Behavioral Factors" (Norman L. Farberow); (3) "Social and Cultural Risk Factors for Youth Suicide" (Carol Huffine); (4) "Family Characteristics and Support Systems as Risk Factors for Youth Suicide" (Cynthia R. Pfeffer); (5) "Contagion as a Risk Factor for Youth Suicide" (Lucy Davidson and Madelyn Gould); (6) "Stress and Life Events" (Eugene S. Paykel); (7) "Sexual Identity Issues" (Joseph Harry); (8) "'Major Psychiatric Disorders' as Risk Factors in Youth Suicide" (Maria Kovacs and Joachim Puig-Antich); (9) "Personality as a Predictor of Youthful Suicide" (Allen Frances and Susan J. Blumenthal); (10) "Substance Use and Abuse: A Risk Factor in Youth Suicide" (Marc A. Schuckit and Judith J. Schuckit); (11) "Methods as a Risk Factor in Youth Suicide" (J. William Worden); (12) "Neurotransmitter Monoamine Metabolites in the Cerebrospinal Fluid as Risk Factors for Suicidal Behavior" (Marie Asberg); (13) "Post Mortem Studies of Suicide" (Michael Stanley); (14) "The Neuroendocrine System and Suicide" (Herbert Y. Meltzer and Martin T. Lowy); (15) "Genetics and Suicidal Behavior" (Alec Roy); and (16) "Summary and Overview of Risk Factors in Suicide" (Frederick K. Goodwin and Gerald L. Brown).