During the last hours, two suicides committed in two squares of the great mendoza raised concern among the neighbors. Although these are private instances, the fact that they were carried out in public spaces drew attention. Which are the statistics in relation to mental health and how to prevent them.
The first of the events occurred on Sunday morning in the Malvinas Argentinas square (Aguado and Coronel Rodríguez) of the Sixth Section of the City. There, neighbors passing through the area discovered that a young man in his 20s had taken his own life. After the 911 call, police personnel worked at the scene.
For its part, this Monday morning there was a second event in Godoy Cruz. A young man of approximately 20 years who was in a street situation would have taken his life in Sargento Cabral square, located between Derqui and Álvarez Condarco streets. The Scientific Police works at the place.
Although the episodes related to mental health are private, and where the privacy of the information must be valued so as not to stigmatize those who suffer from them and their families, both cases highlight the need to address the situation of the suicides in the province. According to statistics Worldwide, there is talk of a suicide every 40 seconds and it is the second cause of death between 15 and 29 years. In relation to gender, three times more men commit suicide than women.
At the provincial level, one note published by this newspaper, remarked that the attention or consultations for mental illnesses in hospital guards increased by 40%. “Of the cases that arrived, 30% responded to problems of suicide and the rest other problems. At the Comprehensive Adolescent Care Center (Cipau), between 70 and 80% of the cases that arrive correspond to self-harm or suicides“, highlighted the psychiatrist and coordinator of the Suicide Prevention and Training Area, Alina Del Canto, to MDZ.
In a complex context, health professionals consider it necessary to remove the taboo that exists to talk about the subject. “The only way to prevent suicides is to start asking questions and putting the situation into words”, they emphasize.
If there is a feeling of anguish or suffering related to mental health, the line 0800 800 26843, extension 3, is available, which works from Monday to Monday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. However, if there is an imminent risk situation, the line to call is 911. Finally, the line for girls and boys is 102.