Toronto - While young Canadian women tend to experience depression and thoughts of suicide more than men, the men are more likely to act on their suicidal thoughts, says a new study on depression and suicide among teens.

The study, compiled by psychiatrists at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, found links between "suicidality" and age, income levels and where a teen lives in Canada.

Male teens in B.C. had the highest attempted suicide rate, while those in Quebec reported the highest rate of depression.

Nearly a quarter of the female teens from B.C. who took part in the study reported having had suicidal thoughts.

The study also found that suicidality rates in Canada differ little from those in the U.S., despite the fact that universal health coverage north of the border gives Canadians better access to health care.

Experts say the study indicates a need for school programs to better educate students about depression and suicide, which is the second leading cause of death among teens in Canada.