Suicide is the second leading cause of death in Europe among 15–29 year olds. Adolescence is a sensitive period during development with several age specific factors, which can increase suicidal risk.

As it is in all cases, the first step of the diagnostic procedure of suicidal adolescents is creating an appropriate environment for the evaluation and rapport building.

More than 90% of suicidal adolescents has ongoing and usually untreated psychiatric disorder/s and about three-quarters of them has at least one subthreshold diagnosis. Potential common risk factors of adolescence suicide include both internalizing and externalizing disorders, such as major depressive episode, substance use and conduct disorder. The comorbidity of psychiatric disorders–both subthreshold and threshold - has been associated with increased risk for suicide. The careful assessment of subthreshold and full psychiatric disorders of suicidal adolescent is important in suicide prevention and the treatment of suicidal adolescents. The diagnostic procedure includes both clinical assessment and using validated (semi) structured diagnostic interviews. Rating scales can provide information on the severity of the patient's symptoms. Next to the assessment of the symptoms it is important to take the history and to get know about adolescents’ possible life events. Clinicians should carefully screen potential suicidal behavior itself, which includes both clinical assessment and validated interviews and tests.Complex treatment of suicidal adolescents can include, if it is necessary hospitalization due to the management of acute suicide risk and the appropriate treatment of subthreshold and threshold psychiatric disorders with the consideration of possible life events.