Enrique Baca García
Head of the psychiatry department at the Fundación Jiménez Diaz, psychiatry professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
The report is not surprising, but it is alarming to see that the trend is at best 'stable'. These data should be taken with caution; they are useful to get an idea of trends. Different criteria and methodologies have been used in the series, and possible under-reporting in large urban areas has to be taken into account.
Most importantly, despite having a society with protective factors and a good health system with increasing investments in mental health, suicide is not contained. It should be noted that, in Northern Europe and Baltic countries, the numbers have fallen in recent years.
We need to be consistent in the implementation of the primary and secondary prevention strategy, facilitate access to mental health treatment and improve treatment.