A family history of depression and suicidal tendencies can pass down through genetics and be inherited by children. It can be inherited from grandparents, great-grandparents and so-on and so-forth from the mother or father's side. The Harvard University states that reports indicate more than 50 percent of children who have parents with depression also develop the condition with its symptoms by the age of 20 or sooner. The university also claims that identical twins also show higher rates of depression. The Stanford School of Medicine explains that scientists theorize that genetics lend as much as 50 percent toward the cause of depression in children. It is often difficult to decipher whether nature or nurture is the deciding factor when children of a depressed parent develop depression themselves.
When a child is part of an unhealthy environment, he can develop unhealthy emotional and mental patterns. Depression with suicidal ideation is just one of the many disturbing conditions that can arise from a toxic environment. Toxic environment scenarios include homes where the parents are constantly fighting, environments where the child is subject to adult material, drug usage and sales, or environments where the child is being abused mentally, emotionally or sexually. These differing forms of mistreatment aide in the development of low self-esteem, depression and suicidal thoughts.
Stressful changes occur throughout a person's life as part of living, but sometimes an emotionally weak child or one who already has depression or another emotional disorder suffers differently. Stressful situations and changes include the divorce or separation of a child's parents, a death of a cherished pet or loved one, or sudden changes of environment like moving cities and schools. When these situations arise, an emotionally fragile child or adolescent may go into a deep bout of depression, which intensifies the chances of thinking about or attempting suicide.
Other factors weigh in on causing suicidal tendencies in a child or adolescent, such as side effects of various medications, dietary and hormonal problems, or other environmental factors. For instance, the University of Chicago claims that 42 percent of gay, bisexual or lesbian adolescents experience thoughts and desires of suicide. Children who have histories of adoption are also considered to be at a higher risk of developing suicidal ideation.
