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Death by suicide has become a serious public health problem. The Government’s new campaign, which has the motto “No els deixem caure en el pou del suïcidi”, places emphasis on the detection by the environment of behaviors that threaten one’s own life and calls for empathetic listening and asking for help from the telephone number 061. In fact, according to data recorded by the Codi Risc Suïcidi in the last nine years, more than 39,000 episodes of suicidal behavior have been reported in Catalonia. Unfortunately, cases increase every year and especially from 2021 onwards, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The encouraging news is that during the first half of 2023, suicide attempts in Catalonia have decreased by 2.9% compared to the same period last year. This has been especially noted in the cases of women, with a reduction in attempts of 7.8% and 10% in the 12 to 25 age group. On the contrary, there has been a 9.7% increase in the detection of suicidal ideation. In this sense, the Minister of Health, Manel Balcells, points out that “if we can detect ideation, we can intervene. We must do everything possible so that we can detect it early.”
The detection of suicidal ideation allows us to act in time and implement an early intervention protocol. The Codi Risc Suïcidi program makes it easier for people treated for suicidal behavior in health emergencies or after a psychiatric admission to receive rapid postal attention in the vast majority of cases.
Deaths by suicide can be avoided and it is on this point, on prevention and early detection, where the Generalitat focuses. For this reason, this year the Suicide Prevention Observatory of Catalonia was launched. The objective is to implement a system of epidemiological surveillance of suicide, suicidal behavior and health care for patients and survivors.
Among other functions, the Observatori evaluates and monitors the implementation of the PLAPRESC, Suicide Prevention Plan in Catalonia, and is also responsible for designing awareness and prevention campaigns aimed at the general population or specific groups.
In the first year of operation of the Suïcidi Prevention telephone line through telephone number 061, managed by the Medical Emergencies System (SEM), 12,094 health consultations due to risk of suicide have been attended. An imminent risk of suicide has been detected in 882 of the consultations (7.29%) and a high risk of suicide during healthcare has been detected in 2,052 consultations (17%).
The specialist professionals in psychiatry, psychology and nursing at the Taula de Prevenció del Suïcidi dedicate an average healthcare time of eighteen minutes.
Suicides and suicide attempts cause a great physical, psychological, emotional and social impact on the affected families. The Health Department offers support in the emotional recovery of the environment of the person who has taken their own life or who has attempted to do so. In addition, information is offered on other community support resources from suicide prevention and survivor associations.
Likewise, Salut is working on the implementation of new guidelines for the detection and addressing of suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-harm in the university, prison and ward settings.
Another notable action is the training activities. Beyond those of the Department of Health aimed at health professionals, training is currently being carried out and organized with the departments of the Interior, Social Rights and Education (both secondary education and university environment).
Suicide is a preventable death if we listen to people at risk and provide access to effective help.
