- According to official records, during 2021 there were 8,447 suicides in Mexico.
- The WHO states that globally one occurs every 40 seconds.
- In addition, for each one it is estimated that there are 20 people who try and do not succeed but are left with marks and psychological damage.
Times change but there is a health problem that remains and has even increased in recent years. Its about suicide and in the case of Mexico it is already the second cause of death among people between 15 and 44 years old. Although in reality the population of any age is at latent risk.
To get an idea of the global picture, each year almost a million people commit suicide, which is equivalent to a completed case every 40 seconds. In addition, for each one it is estimated that there are 20 people who try and do not succeed but are left with marks and psychological damage.
What is suicide?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as a act deliberately initiated and performed by a person with full knowledge or expectation of its fatal outcome. Furthermore, it is a multifactorial problem resulting from a complex interaction of biological, genetic, psychological, sociological and environmental factors.
Despite the above, it mentions that the prevention and adequate treatment of depression, alcohol abuse and other substances, as well as those who have attempted suicide, allows the reduction in global rates.
Suicide in Mexico
In the region of the Americas, Mexico stands out for having an approved program for suicide prevention, reported the general director of the Psychiatric Care Services (SAP), Juan Manuel Quijada Gaytan.
During the opening ceremony of the National Suicide Prevention Week, which this year bears the motto “Creating hope through action,” pointed out the importance of listening and discussing the issue. Also eradicate myths and stigmas, in addition to accessing care services.
“Let’s be empathic with people with suicidal thoughts. Let us listen to the communities, to the families; to the extent that the subject can be discussed, the alarm signals can be identified”.
The technical secretary of National Council on Mental Health (STConsame), Diana Iris Tejadilla Orozco, pointed out that the National Program for Suicide Prevention (PNPS), which has been in operation since 2020, is based on five axes: coordination, surveillance, interventions, training and research.
“The program is not only public policies, it is aimed at the population in general, so that each person can apply it in their closest context.”
It also has the code 100 for care in general hospitals, community brigades and emotional support groups throughout the country to raise awareness and inform about mental health.
The director of Indicators and Analysis of Government Information of the National Institute of Statistic and Geography (Inegi), José Edmundo Urquieta Salomón, reported that suicide is a phenomenon that is increasing in the country, “from 1990 to 2021 it increased four times.”
He added that the suicide rate in Mexico is 6.6 per 100 thousand inhabitants. In 2021, 8,447 suicides were recorded; of which, 18.6 percent corresponded to women and 81.2 percent to men. The age groups from 15 to 24 and from 25 to 34 years old concentrated the highest percentage.
The director of Professionalization of Health Personnel of the Health Institute for Wellness (Insabi), Vanessa Lizette Vizcarra Munguía, said that suicide is a public health problem that is addressed in a coordinated manner in the Health sector with actions such as staff training with specific content on suicide prevention.
The advisor for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Mario Zapata, pointed out that Mexico has the administrative and political will to work for mental health and prevent suicides.
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