Contemporary panorama of suicide prevention in adolescence

Abstract

Each year, more than 800,000 people die by suicide, a figure that could be even higher when considering that a significant number of deaths attributed to overdose and traffic accidents may actually be suicides. The majority of these deaths occur in low-income countries. Furthermore, suicide has a ripple effect, impacting the community, friends, and family members who have lost a loved one to this cause. It is estimated that for every person who dies by suicide, more than 20 others attempt it, with the majority being adolescent males. This alarming situation led to the aim of the research, which was to identify the current state of prevention efforts regarding suicide attempts among adolescents within healthcare institutions. A documentary bibliographic methodology was employed, with consultations of high-impact databases. The review concluded that prevention is the primary measure to address suicidal behavior. This includes support services aimed at preventing the occurrence of suicidal acts, intervention when an attempt occurs to ensure the safety and health of the patient, and post-incident measures, such as mental health support and family counseling, to improve the quality of intrafamilial relationships and thereby prevent future recurrences among adolescents. As a solution, a prevention and control strategy encompassing three fundamental pillars of the affected individual's environment is proposed