Introduction: Currently, suicide is the third leading cause of death worldwide among adolescents aged 11 to 18, and in Cuba, it is the third leading cause of death among those aged 10 to 19. This event occurs more frequently among males, regardless of skin color
or social class. When an adolescent commits suicide or attempts suicide, everyone is affected: family, friends, classmates, neighbors, and sometimes even people who didn’t know the adolescent. The adolescent who attempts suicide may experience feelings of pain, confusion, and guilt.
Aim: To delve deeper into the problem of suicidal behavior in adolescents because it is a stage of vulnerability and risk.
Method: A literature review was conducted in which the databases included in the LILACS, EBSCO and HINARI services were consulted, and very good coverage was achieved, both in Cuba, in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in the rest of the world.
Development: The general characteristics of healthy adolescents and risk factors that make them vulnerable to suicidal behavior are presented, allowing for reflection on the topic to contribute to its prevention, especially from the primary health care level.
Conclusion: Suicidal behavior in adolescents constitutes a serious health problem that must be addressed by different elements of society since individual, family and community factors are involved.