Emotional distress and suicidal behavior in the primary care consultation: practical management in adolescents

In recent years, there has been a concerning increase in anxiety-depressive symptoms, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicidal behaviors among the adolescent population. This manuscript reviews the current situation in Spain from a contextual, clinical, and practical perspective, integrating recent epidemiological data, individual and social risk factors, as well as relevant explanatory models. Furthermore, it provides a conceptual differentiation between non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts, and proposes intervention strategies within primary care settings, along with specific recommendations for pediatricians. The aim is to offer a useful, evidence-based guide to facilitate the early detection of these behaviors and to improve the healthcare response in frontline medical settings.