We introduced the strategy and study for suicide prevention

In the framework of the Suicide Prevention International Day, on September 10^th, the Citizen Council for Safety and Justice in Mexico City introduced the SAY YES to life study together with a renovated strategy to promote suicide prevention through cooperation, collaboration and innovations in order to maintain a permanent dialogue with people who are a suicide risk.

Lacking social skills, grief, being victims of crimes, addictions, harassment, family or economical problems, depression and anxiety are among this situation’s causes.

The home address is the place where more suicide attempts take place with a rate of 73 percent, 14 percent in the street, 6 percent in the subway, 4 percent on a bridge and 2 percent in a school or hotel, each.

Salvador Guerrero Chipres, president of the Citizen Council informed in press conference that they have a collaboration agreement with the Metro system in order to help people who show suicidal conducts in subway stations. Throughout the year, there have been 15 situations that derived from this agreement.

A fundamental part of this renewed strategy of attention to suicide, apart from adding allies, is the integration of WhatsApp as a means of communication, given that this network allows us to have a constant and growing interaction.

“If there’s a chance to talk to someone: talking to the Council or any trustworthy person may save a life, that’s why we ask people to call us, write, without any conditions and at any time of the day,” Guerrero Chipres pointed out.

Thanks to the Trustworthy Chat (55) 5533-5533, presented on February 2029, and that the citizen Council made an alliance with Netflix on August 2019 to promote this services at the end of each episode of the series 13 reasons Why, we have made more people, especially young people, ask for support in problems related with suicidal attitude.

Check out our videos to prevent suicide in vulnerable populations, with teachers and tutors.

Angela Beatriz Martinez Gonzalez, president of the Suicide Specialists Mexico World Network also participated in this conference and she acknowledge that suicide can be prevented: “it’s one of the causes of death we can prevent and it’s important for all society to participate together with all the government institutions.”

Martinez Gonzalez highlighted the work made by the team of psychologists of the Council to prevent suicide. She also mentions its participation in the Forum organized by the Senate to help integrate an initiative that changes the General Health Law.

Apart form WhatsApp, the Citizen Council innovates in terms of prevention by launching three downloadable sensitizing videos for three audiences: parents or tutors, teachers and vulnerable population.

These materials are available on the Council’s website and on its YouTube channel. They were created by psychologists who specialize in suicidal trends in such a way that their language and style promote trust in those who watch them so that they can seek the help they need.

Guerrero Chipres informed that since January they have offered 310 psychological attentions, out of which 39 percent have been done through Whatsapp and the rest through the Safety Call Line (55) 5533-5533.

Around 59 percent of these aids have been given to women, and 39 percent to men.

From the total number of calls, 55 percent of cases say that they have suicidal thoughts, 29 percent have made attempts and 16 percent are planning to.

The main reasons to commit suicide include: depression or anxiety, family problems, relationship or separation problems, grief, suicide survival, among others.

Finally, he reminded that the Citizen Council offers a free psychological attention service carried out by specialists, so he called on the population who feels depressed, frustrated or that shows other conducts that lead to suicidal thoughts to communicate to (55) 5533-5533 or send a WhatsApp in order to receive help.

Citizen Council for Safety and Justice in Mexico City