Higher testosterone levels in male teenagers suffering from depression are linked to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors according to recent research. The findings suggest that blood tests evaluating hormone levels might one day help doctors identify which teenage boys are at the greatest risk of self-harm. The research was published in the journal BMC Psychiatry. Rates of depression and suicide among teenagers have been climbing steadily over the past decade. The problem presents a major public health challenge because doctors currently lack objective biological markers to predict which young people are most likely to consider or attempt suicide. Medical professionals typically rely on interviews, questionnaires, and self-reported symptoms to assess safety. These subjective methods can sometimes miss hidden warning signs if a patient is reluctant to share their true feelings. Researchers have long debated whether sex hormones might play a role in the biology of depression and suicide. Evaluating testosterone levels has produced mixed results over years of scientific inquiry. Many past investigations grouped adults and teenagers together or did not account …