Death is a topic that often makes us uncomfortable and causes us pain, especially when it is a sudden, unnatural death chosen due to deep suffering, as is the case with suicide, a true taboo within a taboo.
The situation becomes even more devastating when the person who has made the decision to take their own life is in a premature stage of life such as adolescence or young adulthood. Unfortunately, suicide is the leading cause of death among children and adolescents, and represents a public health problem that demonstrates the worsening of mental health in this age group. Therefore, it is essential to approach this issue responsibly and focus on prevention and support networks.
Beyond statistical data, which are easily accessible, we must focus on the tools and ways to deal with discomfort in order to avoid suicidal behaviors. Until now, attention has been mainly directed towards the individual and their family, who often have to endure the stigma and shame associated with the loss of a loved one. This situation is exacerbated by a cultural heritage that considers that only God has the right to decide on life and death.
Today, we have enough knowledge to address suicide in childhood and adolescence from a psychosocial and community approach. It is essential that families, schools, health services and society in general commit together to prevent this phenomenon.
In Catalonia, mental health has been gaining importance for institutions, as we can see with the PLAPRESC (Plan for the Prevention of Suicide in Catalonia 2021–2025), which aims to reduce suicide mortality by 15% and attempts by 10%. The planned actions include the training of professionals, educational campaigns, better access to services, and the creation of a single registration system for suicidal behavior. In addition, this plan promotes collaboration between the departments of Health, Education and Social Affairs, integrating actions in educational centers, health centers and social services. Thus, a comprehensive and coordinated response is sought to the challenges presented by mental health.
We identify risk factors and seek support
In order to prevent it, it is essential to identify risk factors and warning signs, which may include:
- Loneliness
- Social isolation
- Emotional distress and/or mental health problems.
- Poor school performance
- Sudden changes in behavior or mood
- Situations of physical or verbal violence
- Bullying or cyberbullying
- Mistreatment in the family home
- Sexual violence
- Medication
- Drug use.
- Characteristics typical of adolescents (identity crisis, following fashions or trends, interest in experimenting, being part of groups, etc.).
- Experiencing a stressful life event (separations, deaths, changes of address, etc.)
- Suicidal thoughts and ideas
- Attempts and deaths by suicide
- Self-harm or risky behaviors
- Comments about wanting to die, disappear, or not wake up.
This case study highlights the social and multifactorial dimension of suicide, which keeps us from pointing out that the individual and their family are solely responsible. However, as individuals, we could ask ourselves what type of model of society we want our childhoods and adolescences to reflect. And certainly, young people do not have it easy at all if they have to deal with a frenetic pace, digital hyperconnection, which paradoxically, sometimes disconnects us from our humanity. In addition, they also have to deal with job uncertainty, inequalities and structural violence. This reality reminds us of the song by the British group Sex Pistols, "No Future", which becomes an anthem for action in the face of a complex society that, despite the immediacy it promotes, lags behind in matters of mental health. Therefore, it is essential to continue working to strengthen protective factors at all levels and to serve people in a comprehensive manner, covering the individual, family, social, and community dimensions.
What can we do to prevent suicidal behavior?
Therefore, prevention must be a priority and is increasingly relevant in the intervention we make in spaces of dialogue between adults and young people. In this sense, it is crucial that we all take sides and learn to accompany emotional states of suffering that can lead to self-destructive behaviors. At the same time, we do not lose sight of the spaces of relationship between young people, their conversations on the network, and the searches they do on the internet. This includes conversations with AI tools such as ChatGPT, among others. This can sometimes be dangerous. Some prevention strategies, resources and good practices would be:
1) Early detection
We have already listed some risk factors, since most suicides do not appear suddenly, so some preventive actions to take into account would be:
- Training teachers, families and healthcare personnel to identify signs.
- Screening in schools and mental health centers.
2) Psychoeducational interventions in schools
Children, adolescents and young people spend a large part of their time in schools and high schools, therefore, the influence they have in promoting emotional well-being cannot be ignored:
- Programs such as #TrioLaVida in collaboration with mental health have impacted thousands of students and families.
- Workshops on emotional management, conflict resolution and stigma prevention.
- Peer support group.
3) Helplines and support services
Confidential and free channels where children and adolescents can ask for help:
061 Salut Respon (Suicide Prevention Desk): available 24 hours a day.
Anar Foundation (900 202 010): specialized in minors.
Obro Feel (WhatsApp): confidential chat service with psychologists, in trials since 2024.
Line 024 (Ministry of Health): help with suicidal ideation.
4) Access to mental health services
- Reducing waiting lists and rapid detection are essential.
- Reinforcement of the CSMIJ (Child and Youth Mental Health Centers) with more teams and psychologists.
- Integrated interventions from primary care (Pediatrics).
- Pilot plan for social prescription for adolescents (extracurricular, sports or artistic activities).
5) Family and community education
Prevention begins at home, and the best way to do this is by talking about it:
- Guides for families on how to talk about suicide, listen without judgment, and how to act in the face of alarming behaviors.
- Institutional campaigns to break the stigma and promote open dialogue (e.g. “Don’t let it fall into the suicide pit”).
- Support groups for families, where a young person has expressed suicidal ideation or has made attempts.
Preventing suicide in children and adolescents requires collective and sustained action: families, schools, health services, we must all contribute to creating safe spaces for emotional expression, validating the suffering of young people and eliminating the stigma associated with mental health. Only in this way can we build a more empathetic and supportive society, where our young people feel safe and valued.
6) Specialized care
If you need professional support, seek help. At Suara we have the therapeutic space, a psychological service specialized in childhood and families. With an integrative and social approach that provides psychological assistance to the person both preventively and reparatively.
M. Carmen Alcántara Puig
Trauma therapist at CA Terres de l'Ebre
