The Málaga City Council, the Junta de Andalucía, the Provincial Council, the UMA, and social entities have published a free guide with resources for suicide prevention. The tool, presented this Monday, includes emergency contacts and support associations.
The Technical Table for Suicide Prevention in Málaga, formed by the City Council, the Health Delegation of the Junta de Andalucía, the Provincial Council, the University of Málaga, and various social entities, has launched a resource guide for the prevention of self-harming behaviours. The document, presented this Monday by the Councillor for Social Rights, Francisco Cantos, and the territorial delegate for Health, Carlos Bautista, among others, aims to provide citizens with all the available tools to face crisis situations.
The guide, which is free to access, can be consulted on the website https://prevencionsuicidiomalaga.uma.es and on the portals of the Social Rights Area and the entities that make up the table: Asociación Teléfono de la Esperanza, Asociación Alhelí, Afenes, Gabinete de Psicología de Parcemasa, and the Official College of Psychology of Eastern Andalucía. The goal, according to the promoters, is to raise awareness of an issue that remains taboo and to facilitate that anyone knows where to turn.
Among the resources included is the telephone line 024, from the Ministry of Health, which is free, confidential, and operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It also includes contacts for public emergency health services, as well as support entities for vulnerable groups: people with mental health issues, addictions, those in mourning, the elderly, the LGTBI+ community, victims of violence, minors and youth, and professionals.
The guide is not only aimed at those with suicidal thoughts but also at their family members and loved ones, referred to as 'survivors'. According to experts, these individuals often experience irrational guilt, social stigma, and complicated grief. Therefore, the document includes psychological and emotional support resources to help them cope with the loss.
Councillor Francisco Cantos emphasized that "suicide prevention is a responsibility of society as a whole" and that this guide "is one more step to ensure that no one feels alone." For his part, Carlos Bautista reminded that "every life counts" and that "information and accessibility to resources are key to saving lives." The Vice-Rector for Equality at the UMA, María José Berlanga, added that the university "is involved in this cause by disseminating the guide and training professionals."
The Technical Table for Suicide Prevention was created in 2022 and has since worked to coordinate efforts between administrations and entities. In 2023, Málaga recorded 67 suicides, a figure that, while stable, remains a cause for concern. The guide aims to be a living tool, which will be updated periodically with new resources.
Interested parties can download the guide in PDF format from the designated website. Additionally, social entities will carry out dissemination campaigns in health centres, schools, and community associations. The aim is to reach as many people as possible, especially those in vulnerable situations.
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