Marta Miret
Professor at the Department of Psychiatry of the School of Medicine of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and member of CIBERSAM
Although slight year-on-year variations in suicide rates are common, an upward trend in suicide rates has been observed since 2018. This increase coincides with the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. It can therefore be hypothesised that some of the social changes brought about by the pandemic may have contributed to this increase in suicides.
Improving the mental health of the population and preventing suicide requires greater investment in mental health services. More mental health professionals are needed to provide more timely and sustained care, and to provide early detection and treatment of mental health problems. A national suicide prevention plan is also needed.
However, preventing and treating mental health problems requires not only action from the health sector, but also from other sectors. Reducing social inequalities, addressing the needs of the most vulnerable people, ensuring easier access to healthy recreational and leisure opportunities, strengthening social ties and combating unwanted loneliness are some of the measures that contribute to improving the mental health of the population.