15% of Teens Expect to Die Young

(NEWSER) - Teens forced to move often by their parents’ jobs are much more likely to attempt suicide than those who stay put, MSNBC reports. Kids between 11 and 17 who moved three or more times were twice as likely to try to kill themselves as children who grew up in the same place, Danish researchers found. If a family moved 10 times, the likelihood of suicide quadrupled the average. More»

Boys with uncommon monikers act out more

(NEWSER) - The more unusual a teenage boy’s name is, the more likely he is to run afoul of the law, a study finds. Irrespective of race, uncommon names like Ivan, Malcolm, and Alec—as opposed to Michael or David—more often belong to kids who act up, researchers say. It’s probably not the names at fault, but connected factors like a deprived background, the Telegraph notes. More»

Police probe incident as suicide attempt

(NEWSER) - Call it a miracle: A 17-year-old boy yesterday jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge ... and survived. The teen, who was visiting the bridge on a class field trip, swam to shore with a surfer’s help. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive, reports the San Francisco Chronicle . While some classmates said he may have been trying “to look cool,” authorities are investigating the incident as a suicide attempt. Witnesses say he broke his tailbone and damaged his lungs, but a school press release stated that he suffered no serious injuries. More»

Cops warn kids joining SMS-organized gangs

(NEWSER) - Philadelphia's top cop has warned teenagers that they can go to jail for joining texted "flash mobs" in which groups of rampaging teens attack property and passers-by. Hundreds of rowdy teenagers, organized by email or text message, have gathered in downtown Philly on recent weekends and the police plan to increase manpower and tighten curfews in response, the New York Times reports. More»

Numbers are up for the first time in 10 years

(AP) - Alcohol and marijuana use among teens is on the rise, ending a decade-long decline. The number of high school students who reported drinking recently rose from 35% in 2008 to 39% last year, says an annual survey out today from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. For pot, the number rose from 19% to 25%. More»