But nearly 8 years ago, at age 21, Justin Finalle committed suicide. Looking back, Jewell said her son put too much pressure on himself. Finalle was high school quarterback, class president, and eventually a University of Pennsylvania intern with President Bill Clinton's office.

"He was just an overachiever. I see it now, but I didn't at the time. I missed the signs," Jewell said.

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among 10 to 24-year-olds. New statistics show teen suicide is on the rise in the Allegheny region, and health professionals said they don't see any end to the rising numbers.

Jackie Andrulonis, also of Dubois, said her son David Wray took his own life at age 19.

"David's was just a one-day thing and so I saw no signs at all," Andrulonis said. "He told me he couldn't work with one of the employees and it upset him, but later I found he couldn't do it because of a relationship problem."

Experts said relationship problems are one of many potential factors leading to teen suicides.

"They make the decision to commit suicide so the parents won't have to deal with them, (or) friends, whoever it might be, boyfriend, girlfriend," said Melissa DeLancey, a program manager at the Meadows Psychiatric Center in Centre County.

DeLancey said there was a 76 percent increase in suicide among 10- to 14-year-old girls from 2003 to 2004. Suicide in girls ages 15 to 19 jumped 32 percent that same year, and about 9 percent more males ages 15 to 19 took their lives in 2004 compared to 2003.

Because of several suicides among students who attended Forest Hills Schools District in Cambria County, administrators there started new programs to keep a closer eye on students.

DeLancey said parents and teachers can both see signs of suicide in kids, including mood swings, giving away prized possessions, comments about suicide, saying things like "Nothing matters" or "You won't have to worry about me much longer," and an often-overlooked sign: a sort of euphoria after a battle with depression.

"They've come to a conclusion that they're going to do this act and that's going to make it better for everyone," DeLancey said.

Jewell said that's what her son experienced before his suicide.

"He was just so happy the day he passed away. He was the happiest I've seen him in a long time, so it was to the point he knew his decision, everything was in order, he had his plans made," she said.

After Justin's death, Jewell found many signs in his room, including a checklist of things to do before he died, a journal full of his anxious thoughts, and a newspaper article about teen suicide published three years before he took his life.

"I gave him that privacy, but as a parent in today's world, I think you have to be a little snoopy. You have to know what's really going on because you could have a perfect child like he was and I missed it all," Jewell said.

His goodbye note told his family how much he loved them and how they couldn't have helped him. He even apologized for being selfish in making the decision to commit suicide.

"It's amazing. I never would have guessed in million years that I'd be sitting here, talking about this story because you never think it'll happen to you," Jewell said.

She and Andrulonis encouraged partners and teens to talk. They said if a person suspects a problem, they should step in.

"Encourage them to get help. Call their parents and let them know their son is really down and he might take his life or something, "Andrulonis said.

She said even if a person thinks their child, sibling or best friend would never commit suicide, don't wait to talk to them until it's too late.