A campaign by the Department of Health to prevent suicide in the Camp de Tarragona Health Region
Eleven black vinyls with white letters and a clear message: “If you know someone about to fall into the well of suicide, listen to them and call 061 for help.” This is the initiative that the Department of Health has promoted to make the population aware of the importance of detecting and acting in cases of suicide risk. The vinyls, 260 centimeters in diameter, have been placed in eight municipalities of the Camp de Tarragona Health Region: Cambrils, Montblanc, Reus, Salou, Tarragona, Torredembarra, Valls and Vila-seca. The campaign, which was launched at the end of 2023 with the slogan “Don’t let him fall into suicide”, has as its main objective to raise awareness of both the family members and the environment of people with suicidal ideation, especially men over 50 years, who are the most vulnerable group.
A phenomenon that has increased with the pandemic and that affects women more
Suicide is a public health problem that has grown with the health crisis caused by covid-19. According to data from the Camp de Tarragona Health Region, 283 suicide episodes were recorded in 2023, a figure lower than the 332 in 2022, but higher than the 347 in 2021 and the 244 in 2020. The majority of cases correspond to women, who they represent 66% of the total of the last 12 months. The factors that can influence the development of suicidal behavior are diverse and complex, but they can be prevented if there is a support network and adequate care.
The importance of listening to and accompanying people with suicidal ideation
The manager of the Camp de Tarragona Health Region, Imma Grau, visited some of the vinyls installed and highlighted “the importance of working on everything that surrounds the person with suicidal ideation. We must be attentive, listen and help those who find himself in this situation, encouraging him to contact the 061 telephone number”. This service, which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, offers professional and personalized care to people who need help or who are worried about someone who may be thinking about suicide. The vinyls, which will remain in each municipality for approximately one month, are another tool to make visible and address this phenomenon that can affect anyone and that requires the involvement of all of society.