By: Nilmaris Díaz Ramos
Suicide is one of the most significant public health problems worldwide. It accounts for 1.4% of the global mortality rate, which is higher than deaths caused by complications related to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), breast cancer, homicides, and wars. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 800,000 people worldwide commit suicide each year.
From 2000 to 2021, 6,292 deaths by suicide have been reported in Puerto Rico, and so far this year, there have been 81 suicides. These alarming statistics show that this is an issue we must pay attention to.
In Puerto Rico, there is a public policy that recognizes suicide as one of the major problems afflicting our society. Act No. 227 of August 12, 1999, known as the Act for the Implementation of Public Policy on Suicide Prevention, created a commission whose goal is to prevent suicide through the promotion, development, and implementation of strategies that highlight the magnitude of the problem and provide solutions.
How Centro Ararat contribute to suicide prevention?
Suicide is the cause of death most directly affected by psychological factors, according to the WHO. Therefore, they point out that "the work of psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health professionals is vital to understanding suicide and developing methods to predict and prevent its occurrence."
Centro Ararat part of this commitment to understand suicide and develop ways to prevent it. As part of our services, we have a team of psychologists ready to assist our participants. In addition, the Ararat team recently took a workshop with the Center's mental health director, Dr. Iván Báez Santos, to learn tools for dealing with suicide.
What should we do if someone expresses a desire to commit suicide?
If you know someone who expresses or shows signs of their intentions, we must take those expressions seriously and respond to them. Here are some tips:
- Pay attention
- Don't leave the person alone
- Believe him
- Take it seriously.
- Do not scold or judge
- Understand and validate your feelings
- Let them know you want to help them
- Encourages the person to express their feelings
- Refer them to professional help.
Our team of mental health professionals is ready to address these situations. In these cases, you can contact Dr. Juan Rivera, available in San Juan and Arecibo, or Dr. Rosa Rivera, available in Ponce and Juana Díaz. If you are unable to reach them, you can call Dr. Báez Santos at any of our clinics.
At Centro Ararat care about all our participants and want everyone to be well and have a good quality of life. Let's be part of this effort to prevent suicide and ensure that fewer and fewer people are included in these statistics.
The content on this page is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not replace or substitute for a consultation with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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