Samaritans in Spain are there to support desperate youngsters

A RECENT BBC news item reported that filmmaker Andrew Jenkins, 52, from Blaenau Gwent, had lost 19 friends to suicide over three decades.

He has spoken out so that other people might think twice about taking their own lives. He now plans to make an educational film about the issue.

The piece also quoted Stephen Habgood, chairman of charity Papyrus, which is concerned with young people’s suicides, who said 75 per cent of people who took their own lives were young men and he expected to see an increase in suicides among middle-aged men because of the effects of the recession.

Psychiatrists say mental health problems are increasing in Spain and the suicide rate is up since the financial crisis began. Certain factors are known to be associated with increased risk of suicide, including unemployment, poverty, family breakdown, bullying and social isolation.

The young fear that that they have no future in their own country and either have to move abroad or depend on family members who are themselves in difficulty. According to RTVE television, suicide was second to cancer (15 per cent of deaths) in the overall 25-34 age group and the leading cause of death amongst young men (17.8 per cent).

One in three young people who take their lives are intoxicated at the time of death. Among the young, 80 per cent of suicides are male, who feel possibly that they should be the stronger sex and men usually find it much more difficult to open up and talk about their problems.

Samaritans in Spain said:
“If you, or someone you know, is feeling desperate and in need of emotional support, contact Samaritans in Spain now. Please call our 24 hour confidential line on 902 883 535 or email pat@samaritansinspain.com
“For more information visit our website www.samaritansinspain.com and connect on Facebook.”