Booklet provides guidelines for society on suicide prevention

A document prepared by the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights is intended for families, educators, guardianship councils, community and religious leaders

Representative Image, Suicide Prevention. Photo: Banco de Imagens

Sep 8, Brazil: A booklet was launched on to guide society on suicide prevention. With the theme “Welcome to life! Because life is worthwhile ”, the document was prepared by the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights in celebration of Yellow September, the month of the suicide prevention awareness campaign. The booklet is aimed at families, educators, guardianship councils, community, religious leaders and the whole society.

According to the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights, suicide accounts for 1.4% of all deaths worldwide, and among young people aged 15 to 29, it is the second leading cause of death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Brazil ranks eighth among the countries with the highest number of suicides.

Another data reveals that, between 2006 and 2015, there was a significant increase in the number of suicides in Brazil. And the rate of cases among adolescents living in large Brazilian cities has increased by 24%. The problem can often be related to depression or circumstances involving loss of relatives, jobs and relationships.

That was what highlighted the National Secretary of Youth, of the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights, Emilly Coelho. According to her, if the suffering is great, the person should seek help, as suicide and self-use are escapes from pain and suffering.

"Sometimes people can appear to be very happy on social media, and that is just a facade when inside she is deeply sad," he said. "These symptoms should never be ignored, because we may be facing a serious mental disorder," he added.

And he stressed that today there are psychologists, psychiatrists and support groups that guarantee support to the population. The secretary also defended the importance of those close to reach out and help, if necessary.

"If you notice that your colleague is a little sad, that sadness that endures, offer help to talk, because you can be the change, you can be the channel for that person to get out of depression," said the secretary.

Primer

The booklet contains warning phrases and signs that demand attention. It also provides tips on how to start a conversation with someone who is suffering.

Creating a pleasant family environment is also necessary and important to prevent self-harm. The document suggests, for example, devoting time to be with the family, turn off the TV, cell phone and other means to get together, play or just talk.

Access the booklet

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Download • 1.07MB

To help in the prevention of suicide, in addition to the booklet, the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights, through the National Family Secretariat, has been developing a series of actions. For example, it created the “Campaign for Life”, aimed at municipalities with the highest suicide rate. It also conducts a distance course aimed at families seeking training and guidance on the importance and prevention of the topic. It also provides the “Acolha a Vida” portal, with several videos and information on the topic.

Yellow September

The Yellow September is an awareness campaign on suicide prevention. In Brazil, it was created in 2015 by the Centro de Valorização da Vida, the Federal Council of Medicine and the Brazilian Association of Psychiatry, with the objective of associating colour with the month that marks the World Day for the Prevention of Suicide, on September 10. The idea is to paint, illuminate and stamp yellow on monuments and in the most diverse resolutions, ensuring more visibility to the cause. In the country, this movement goes from North to South and involves schools, universities, public and private sector entities and society in general.