Last Friday, a woman with her little daughter of about one year tried to take her own life on a bridge in the northern part of Quito. The police patrolling the field prevented this incident. On June 4, another woman with her 6-year-old daughter also tried to commit suicide on the Chiche bridge. In both cases, the lack of work that would generate funds to meet their most basic needs was the main reason for this decision.

These two cases add to the hundreds of attempts reported at emergency centers. As of August 23, ECU911 had received 499 calls for suicide attempts, most of them in Guayaquil, Quito and Ambat, and unfortunately 245 suicides were committed.

What is celebrated on September 10

Although the figures show that suicides in the country have decreased as there were 192 cases from January to June compared to 241 in the first half of 2022, the government’s measures are not enough to solve and establish strategies for this suicide problem. public health which is now one of the leading causes of death in Ecuador.

Prevention measures are key and their dissemination through all possible channels is vital. Help is strong for people who are thinking about suicide and is not only focused on the family, but also on emotional support networks and free psychiatric emergency care in the network of public hospitals.

The importance of mental health

This last option consists of an alternative text that must be analyzed and approved by the new National Assembly as part of the Organic Law on Mental Health, which also proposes that every Ecuadorian have access to mental health prevention programs and that public, private and community service providers provide specialized care.

For now, in Quito, ten psychologists at ECU911 will answer phone calls from people who need help and emotional support to prevent them from resorting to suicide. This initiative urgently needs to be replicated throughout the country. (OR)