Communication strategy for mental health: suicide prevention in the university community Estrategia de comunicación para la salud mental: prevención del suicidio en la comunidad universitaria

Abstract

Introduction: It is estimated that every year 700,000 people commit suicide, that is, one suicide every 40 seconds, making it the third leading cause among those between 20 and 24 years of age, with the highest rate of death in the region of the Americas among those aged 45. and 59 years. Objective: To guide the general population of the Universidad de los Llanos in Villavicencio - Meta towards suicide prevention. Materials and methods: Collective interventions based on the thematic content of the Virtual Course - Prevention of self-harm and suicide: empowerment of primary health care professionals of the Virtual Campus of Public Health of the Pan American Health Organization. Results: 74 people participated, to whom a pre and post crisis survey was applied, in which it was found: 62% recognized the risk factors for suicide, 55% the frequent symptoms, 61% the warning signs and 76, 2% learned suicide prevention strategies. Conclusions: The predominance of adolescent participation interested in suicide prevention implies the need for more studies of this nature in academic or university spaces.