Yellow September: Brazil minister talks signs of suicidal behavior
September is marked by suicide prevention initiatives throughout Brazil, as part of the Yellow September campaign. As per data presented by the campaign, held since 2014 by the Brazilian Association of Psychiatry in partnership with the Federal Council of Medicine, 14 thousand cases are reported every year—an average of 38 a day.
Among young people aged 15 through 29, the issue is the fourth leading cause of death, preceded only by traffic accidents, tuberculosis, and interpersonal violence.
In an interview on radio broadcast Voz do Brasil, the country’s Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights, Cristiane Britto, talked about the role of families in paying attention to behavioral signs, especially in children and young people, that can lead to suicide.
Among the indicators that should merit attention, the minister said, are isolation, changes in eating and sleeping habits, self-mutilation, self-deprecation, interruption of plans, and the abandonment of studies and jobs.
“We have been urging society to observe the signs. This year, we have been trying to engage family members. Those struggling with depression want to be welcomed. They need to be heard. Do not ignore signs, especially from children and those who are in their teens,” said the minister.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made things worse, she argued. “Unfortunately, the pandemic has brought us a deterioration in the mental health of all Brazilians, hitting children as young as six years old. The age range of Brazilians attempting or committing suicide is from 11 to 19 years old. Males are prevalent. And we have been very concerned about this. We need to talk about suicide and self-mutilation,” she said.
