On average, every day one person chooses to end their life in Costa Rica. This is shown by figures from the Judiciary, which reports that 349 people committed suicide in 2016. Given this problem, the College of Psychological Professionals urges all institutions related to this issue to take appropriate measures to work with the seriousness the subject requires.
The group of professionals indicates that suicidal behavior is not related to the desire to die, but with a deep suffering associated with despair and powerlessness, according to scientific research on the subject.
In the same way, they are aware that the country should establish actions so that the promotion of mental health is a public priority.
A care plan must be created for survivors of suicide, that is, those people who are deeply affected by the suicide of a loved one, since they are one of the main risk groups for future suicidal behavior,”
said Waynner Guillén Jiménez, president of the institution.
In addition, they emphasize that suicide not only means the tragic loss of human lives, it also results in the confusion, pain, and stigmatization of those who suffer the loss of their loved ones as a result of an act of self-elimination.
The decision of suicide is multi-causal and other factors that accentuate the vulnerability of people to self-harm include the lack of basic education to the population in matters of mental health, the social stigmatization suffered by people who are carriers of mental disorders, the difficulty to access health services in a timely and preventive way, economic problems and chronic pain, among others.