The Cabildo of Lanzarote, through the Department of Social Welfare, presented this Tuesday, September 10, coinciding with the World Day for Suicide Prevention, a Suicide Prevention Action Protocol with the aim of strengthening support and prevention resources aimed at young people.
Among people between 15 and 20 years old, suicide is the second leading cause of unnatural death. Therefore, the Island Corporation intends with this protocol that the attached institutes have a psychology professional who will be present every week to help the management teams that have to manage situations that show worrying symptoms.
During the presentation of this project, a pioneer in the Canary Islands, the agreement was also signed with the Official College of Psychologists of Las Palmas, with a subsidy of 300,000 euros, through which this service will be provided in the 23 Compulsory Education Centers of Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
The Councilor for Social Welfare of the Island Corporation, Marci Acuña, emphasized the work that the Institution has been carrying out during this term in the area of mental health care, an aspect where efforts have been multiplied and, in the specific case of the prevention of suicidal behaviors among high school students, the Cabildo allocates its own resources.
Regarding the Suicide Prevention Protocol, Marci Acuña has made it clear that this assignment of a psychology professional attached to the Lanzarote educational centers will allow us to "detect among adolescents signs that show us their problems in advance. In addition, this project is fully part of our mental health promotion strategy, which has no other objective than to contribute positively so that our population is properly cared for, because the figures warn us that mental health should also be a priority for public managers."
For his part, the president of the Security and Emergency Consortium, Francisco Javier Aparicio, considered that this type of action "is essential to avoid any type of suicidal behavior." "From the Security Consortium we will always ensure, hand in hand with Social Welfare, the fight for prevention," added Aparicio.
The dean of the College of Psychologists of Las Palmas, Francisco Javier Sánchez, says that "for many years, the issue of suicide has been hidden and concealed. Therefore, this fact has only managed to promote these behaviors, due to ignorance of the social reality. That this day exists is, without a doubt, a triumph for our society."
With the implementation of this suicide prevention protocol, which will be taken to the plenary session on Monday, September 23, the Island Corporation demonstrates its commitment to mental health care.
Illumination of the facade of the Cabildo of Lanzarote
On the occasion of the World Day for Suicide Prevention, the facade of the Cabildo of Lanzarote will be illuminated in yellow tonight, September 10, at 9:00 p.m., with the aim of giving visibility and support to people and families who are going through this type of situation.
This recognition is carried out through the collaboration between the Department of Social Welfare, the Security and Emergency Consortium and the Gamas Association, to strengthen the support and care network around mental health.