The national suicide prevention number 3114 has received 34,000 calls since its launch four months ago, against the backdrop of a health crisis, according to figures released on Friday February 4 on the eve of National Suicide Prevention Day.
Read alsoWorrying increase in suicide attempts among young people
"
In four months, there were 34,000 calls to 3114, with two peaks, around the end of year celebrations, and after the passage of Stromae
" in the 8 p.m. newspaper of TF1 where the Belgian singer unveiled "
L'enfer
“, title of his future album evoking “
suicidal thoughts
”, indicated the Ministry of Health. From 10 to 15% of these calls resulted in Samu being taken care of, AFP was told.
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this free national number is dedicated to people with suicidal thoughts, but also to their loved ones and to those bereaved by suicide.
The 169 respondents are hospital professionals, supervised by psychiatrists.
Currently, there are 11 centers in the regions, others are to come this year.
The 3114 will soon be enriched with a “
chat
” service.
The health crisis, a catalyst for problems
With around 9,000 suicides per year, France has "
one of the highest rates in Europe
", according to Public Health France.
An average that dates from before the Covid-19.
"
The health crisis has acted as a catalyst for mental health problems, especially among certain specific audiences such as young people
," the ministry said in a press release.
According to the latest delivery of the Coviprev study initiated by Public Health France, 9% of French people have had suicidal thoughts during the year, a high level, 4 points higher than the level outside the epidemic.
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The 3114, launched six months earlier than expected in the face of the health situation, completed an arsenal of devices, such as VigilanS, created in 2015, which monitors people who have attempted suicide, measures to prevent "
suicidal contagion
" or training, renovated in 2019. Suicide prevention is a priority for the ministry, which included it in its mental health and psychiatry roadmap for 2018, he recalls in the press release.
During the Assizes of mental health and psychiatry, at the end of September 2021, Emmanuel Macron announced a series of measures for a sector which had said itself "
on the verge of implosion
", without completely satisfying the actors.
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