“Suicide rates have been accumulating from the 1990s to today, with some minimal declines in a few years,” said Gonzalo Di Pascua, a psychologist who is a member of Uruguay’s Coordinator of Psychologists and has studied suicide extensively.
NEW ESTIMATE ADDS 2 MILLION TONNES TO BOLIVIA’S KNOWN LITHIUM DEPOSITS
Uruguay is an exception in the Americas, where the average suicide rate is nine compared to another 100,000 people in 2019, according to the latest available figures from the World Health Organization.
Uruguay’s higher suicide rate contrasts with the way the country is seen as a model of economic stability in the Southern Cone. Uruguay has the highest rating of any South American country in the United Nations World Happiness Rankings, with 28, compared to 49 for Brazil and 52 for Argentina.
However, Uruguay’s two neighbors have much lower suicide rates, with Argentina registering 8. 4 consistent with a population of 100,000 in 2019 and Brazil 6. 9.
Eduardo Katz, who heads the intellectual fitness department at Uruguay’s National Administration of Health Services, says part of the disparity is possibly due, at least in part, to “underreporting in neighboring countries. “Although he admits that it tells the whole story lightly.
Uruguayan flag for sale in front of the Centenario Stadium, Montevideo, Uruguay, 2006. (Photo by Jon Buckle – PA Images Getty Images)
“Another very important thing is that there is little adherence to the faith in Uruguay” compared to neighboring countries, Katz said, noting that viewing suicide as a sin “also creates a sense of moderation and deterrence. “
Experts also speculate that Uruguay’s small population of about 3 million makes it harder for others facing intellectual fitness issues to seek the worry of being judged by members of their community.
“We are few and far between, and we all know each other,” Katz said.
There is also a stigma against asking for help.
“Uruguay keeps saying that mind-conditioning facilities are reserved for the crazy,” Di Pascua said. “There’s still a lot of bias when it comes to intellectual conditioning, and even more so when it comes to suicide. “
This is even more pronounced in rural areas, which have suicide rates, and among men, who account for only about 8 in 10 of the total number of suicides in the country.
“A man is less likely to speak up when he’s feeling depressed because he’s facing a social ban, a social ban because of the false machismo that exists of saying ‘I’m sad,’ ‘I feel bad,'” Katz said. “It’s a symbol of weakness. “
STUDY FINDS BRAZIL HOMICIDES AT LOWEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN A DECADE
Despite years of high suicide rates, Katz said Uruguay recently began replacing its technique to combat the scourge.
The fitness formula has prioritized “reducing demand, which is based on prevention,” Katz said. “That’s what we’re starting to do now. “
Di Pascua, for his part, said Uruguay has long had a “very individual solution about the user executing the attempt and not about a more community-oriented solution. “
Despite the recent change of direction, there is little optimism that this will lead to rapid adjustments in the country’s highest suicide rates.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
“Obviously, there is no magic wand that can oppose this trend overnight. It will take some time,” he said Katz. Es very difficult to oppose a trend, but I am confident that we will succeed. “