Dr. Larroba stated that international experiences showed that suicide prevention campaigns can be effective whether health sector is no longer considered to be solely responsible.

She called for diversifying the way of acting in certain areas including education, non-governmental associations and the State because, she stressed, the physician gets involved as the fact has already been “practically consummated”.

Dr. Larroba regarded Uruguay´s present suicide situation as unfavorable, while assuring suicide tolls continue ramping up.

349 suicides were reported in January-May period, a figure that scaled up by 25% with respect to the same period of previous year”, with an upward trend among teens.

She added Uruguay faces a “masculinized suicide” due to the wide difference between women and men who commit suicide, attributed to several social reasons, unemployment among them.

The State Health Services Administration (ASSE) presented this week a Postvention Guide for adolescent suicide to be implemented at healthcare centers. ASSE´s President Leonardo Cipriani added his institution has created a new group of experts to train those who work in emergency rooms (ER), an action added to “the increased psychiatry and psychology positions” in public health.

According to the Health Minister Daniel Salinas, “Uruguay has one of the region´s highest suicide rate,” especially in people over 75 years of age and in young people between 15 and 29.

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