The NIMH Conte Center for the Neuroscience of Mental Disorders is dedicated to the investigation of clinical and neurobiological correlates of suicidal behavior across the life cycle. The Conte Center has successfully tested a predictive model for suicidal behavior in a prospective study and identified much detail about the role of the serotonin system in the diathesis for suicidal behavior. We havidentified a role for certain genes in modulating environmental effects (life events and childhood adversity) on suicidal behavior.