In one year, SUS has almost 3 million calls to its suicide prevention channel

Between March 2023 and March 2024, the Centro de Valorização da Vida (CVV), an institution affiliated to the Unified Health System (SUS) and the main official channel for emotional support and suicide prevention, received 2,887,709 calls. The data is reinforced by the World Health Organization, which estimates that there is a suicide every 40 seconds in the world.

The CVV's most recent figures show that in the first quarter of 2024, between January and March, 642,417 calls were answered by the CVV. The figure represents a drop of 10.4% compared to the same period in 2023, when 717,336 calls were answered.

In 2023, the months with the most occurrences were June and August when 236,283 and 236,285 calls were made via telephone 188. Between April/23 and April/24, the lowest number was recorded in April 2023, with 201,668 calls.

If you look closely at the figures, in one year, Brazil treated an average of more than 240,000 people a month, or almost 8,000 a day. The figures indicate that, per minute, more than 5 people seek support in the public network because of suicidal desires.

CVV works through channels other than telephone calls. There are more than 3,500 volunteers at 97 service points in 20 states. The organization's data shows that, in 2023, there were another 30,000 actions in addition to the calls. There were 2.9 million calls and emotional support.

Encouraging suicide is a crime

On Tuesday (10), World Suicide Prevention Day, CNN spoke with Jenifer Moraes, a professor of criminal law, who analyzed how the issue affects thousands of families every year in Brazil, and how the law plays a crucial role in protecting lives.

Article 122 of the Brazilian Penal Code defines it as a crime to induce, instigate or assist someone to commit suicide, with a penalty of up to six years in prison, depending on the circumstances of the case.

For the law professor, the law aims to curb the active participation of third parties in suicide, protecting vulnerable people in particular.

"After the legislative action that took place in 2019 (...) the current provision inserted in the same provision the inducement, instigation and aid to self-mutilation of the adult and capable, as well as removing the express need for attempted suicide for the punishment of the act," says Jenifer Moraes.

Bullying worries education professionals

For Ana Claudia Ferreira Julio, a specialist in law and educational management, the relationship between bullying and suicide is close. Students who suffer aggression (physical, emotional or virtual) can develop feelings of despair, anxiety and depression, factors which, in extreme cases, lead to thoughts of taking their own lives.

The professional highlights seven fundamental practices that can be implemented in schools to help prevent bullying among students:

  • School policy: from a legal point of view, it is essential that the educational institution adopts rules, procedures and penalties for cases of bullying, with no exceptions. This should be included in documents such as the Service Contract, School Rules, Student Handbook and other institutional materials. They should all follow the same line, providing for situations, action plans and consequences that can, in the most extreme cases, culminate in the dismissal of the bullying student. Or even the Public Prosecutor's Office, since the school is dealing with minors who may commit criminal acts.
  • Recognize warning signs: changes in behavior, isolation, worsening academic performance. These are some of the warning signs to look out for. Training teachers to identify these signs is an important preventative step. After all, teachers are the educational institution's most direct contact with the student.
  • Creating a multidisciplinary team: it's not just about a teacher, a principal or a few parents. The fight against bullying requires a multidisciplinary team with teachers, a pedagogical coordinator, parents, staff and, ideally, a psychology professional. The creation of this team encourages a constant cooperative and collective attitude between the school, parents/guardians, teachers and other staff.
  • Communication with parents or guardians: if any signs of bullying are identified, communication with parents and guardians must always be clear, without using linguistic subterfuges or relativizations. It is crucial that this practice is carried out formally, with instruments that allow parents and guardians to certify that they are aware of the alert. Initially, it is worth inviting them to take part in a preliminary meeting to present the scenario and pass on the guidelines prepared by the school team. Then, monitor each case closely. After all, at the same time as informing parents/guardians about what is happening on its premises, the school is also attesting to its full awareness.
  • Develop awareness programs: campaigns to raise awareness about mental health, suicide and bullying should be frequent in the school calendar. Through lectures, discussions and debates, students can understand the seriousness of the problem and learn to seek help when necessary.
  • Procedures in cases of bullying: all disciplinary measures applied by educational institutions, at any level, must be structured to ensure that the offender has an adversarial hearing and a full defense. They must also be clearly publicized, so that no one can claim ignorance. Penalties applied in the school environment can be reversed in court. But this usually only happens when the rules have not been systematized and publicized in advance. Or because publicized procedures were not followed to the letter by the institution itself.
  • Fostering a peer support network: encouraging mutual support among students can also be an effective strategy. Support groups or activities that reinforce the importance of friendship and solidarity are important for creating an environment where students feel connected. Phone numbers for support services such as the Center for Valuing Life (CVV) and emergency lines can be easily visible so that students, teachers and family members can seek help whenever necessary.

Source: CNN