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The fourth leading cause of death among young people worldwide, suicide can be prevented, health professionals stress, emphasizing the importance of good information, social ties and sufficient mental health care services.
AFP lists some initiatives launched by bereaved parents, such as those of the famous Swedish DJ Avicii, who died at the age of 28, and international or non-governmental organizations to help young people or surviving parents.
“Asking for help is a show of strength of character. When you are in trouble and you take the first step to get out of it, you are showing courage.“, underlines this guide, which also explains to young people how to help loved ones in distress. https://www.voicesofyouth.org/fr/breakthestigma
Free emergency help numbers
Toll-free numbers for specialist help, essential according to doctors, have been created in several countries to prevent suicides or help worried relatives: 3114 in France, 988 in the United States, 90101 in Sweden… For countries that do not have them, helplines for young people exist.
The Tim Bergling Foundation, founded by the parents of Swedish electro DJ Avicii to help young people feel better and get help, provides a list of some of these numbers by continent. https://www.timberlingfoundation.org/get-helpThe French specialist site Infosuicide also provides links https://www.infosuicide.org/liens/autre-pays/
Prevention at university
“Talking about it can change everything!“: the University of Paris Saclay, which has thousands of students in France, organized a month of prevention actions in February 2024, with films, forum theater, meetings with psychiatrists, specialized associations and an information video series accessible on YouTube. https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/actualites/campagne-de-prevention-fevrier-2024-le-suicide-en-parler-peut-tout-changer.
Done badly, media coverage of suicide can have a contagious effect, while a “Responsible treatment can contribute to prevention“, insists the World Health Organization, which has published a special guide recommending among other things to refer to places where to find help and to avoid any reference to the method used https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/mental-health/suicide-prevention-journalists.pdf
In France, the national Papageno program helps to “choose the right words” and trains media professionals and institutions, while offering a platform for testimonies https://papageno-suicide.com. In Austria, there is a Papageno Prize that rewards the most responsible subjects on this theme. Papageno, named after the character from Mozart’s The Magic Flute who, thanks to the help of other people, overcomes suicidal thoughts.
Discussion groups, “survivor” networks
“Involving people with lived experience will help meet the real needs of people requiring support“, WHO emphasizes. Parents who have lost a child, people who have overcome suicidal thoughts can help others, hence the establishment of specific discussion groups in many countries. WHO has listed initiatives in a guide WHO_LiveLife_French_Final.pdf.
While many young people are hesitant to go to a psychologist, Fabrice de Carné, who lost his daughter, suggests, for example, introducing a visit every two years to take stock of mental health, like regular visits to the dentist, which would reduce reluctance.
“If we could create this human chain, talk to each other, let the young people talk to each other, let us, parents, intervene in schools, high schools, we could avoid a lot of things.“, underlines Marie-Noëlle Cullieret, whose son died by suicide.