SANTIAGO – The Ministry of Health released a new guide to help schools prevent student suicides. Time at university can lead to increased mental health issues due to academic overload and economic troubles. Ministers wish to ensure that young people have access to mental health services when they need it.
In Chile, suicide remains a serious public health problem.
On World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10), the Ministry of Health announced a new guide for educational establishments to use as a tool to prevent student suicides.
Called “Recommendations for the Prevention of Suicidal Behavior in Educational Establishments,” the document aims to help reduce the number of suicides across the country.
According to figures released by the Undersecretary of Public Health, Paula Daza, 50% of students in higher education have some sort of mental health condition. In Chile, suicide is the second highest cause of death of young people between 18 and 29 years old. In addition, 2.2% of young people aged 18 to 24 acknowledged having seriously thought about death by suicide.
With such numbers in mind, the government seeks to help schools implement preventive measures so that students receive the support they need.
The guide provides information for young people on where to find support and who to contact if they feel that they need it. It also includes warning signs that may help others identify those who are suicidal or on the verge: these include a person’s increased aggression or withdrawal from friends and family.
Recruiting Teachers’ Help
To further emphasize the important role schools play in preventing suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Program of the Ministry of Health held a conference, in the auditorium of the AIEP Professional Institute of Los Angeles, to train teachers in preventative intervention strategies.
Experts observed that young people, and more often than not young men, found it very difficult to ask adults for help with their mental health struggles. Therefore, the conference encouraged teachers to be more empathetic and open with their students in addition to providing an educational role.
The National Health Strategy aims to reduce the suicide rate from 12 per 100,000 people to 10.2 by 2020.
Ana Truesdale is a British student, studying Liberal Arts at Durham Univeristy, who is currently interning at Chile Today on her year abroad. She has a strong interest in Latin American culture and journalism and wishes to experience all that Chile has to offer.