Even due to the lack of information regarding the causes and prevention, attempted suicide has come to be seen as a way in which children and adolescents seek attention. However, it will remain incomprehensible to speak of prevention as long as we continue to associate this phenomenon with guilt, myths and taboos and ignore the structural circumstances that produce it.
But, how can we prevent suicide in children and adolescents?
In the first place, we must understand suicide as the result of a complex interaction between genetic, psychological and biological components. In addition, the difficulty to socialize, duels and losses in process due to deaths of close people, as well as violence and abuse are the main factors that seriously affect the mental health of many people, especially children and adolescents.
In many cases, a suicide attempt does not literally translate into a wish to die, but rather an escape from a tormenting situation for which no solution can be found.
That is why it is important that we identify it in time. In the case of children and adolescents, it is essential that we promote nurturing environments with tenderness, love and respect, as this will help us identify the first warning signs of a possible suicide attempt. Likewise, it is vital to accompany, listen and understand without judging. Do not leave them alone or alone and allow them to share their emotions with us to start a conversation about prevention.
It is urgent to take care of mental health! From Save the Children we design strategies to raise awareness and provide tools to start building a preventive model focused on mental health care for children and adolescents; meet him here.