Yucatan doubles the national rate of suicides and the deputy director of Mental Health of the State Health Secretariat, Arsenio Rosado Franco, set the goal of reducing the incidence of this problem by 15% with an intense program of prevention that will soon be implemented statewide.
The psychiatrist Rosado Franco confirmed that 2018 was the year with the highest number of suicides in the history of Yucatán, with 246 cases documented with death certificates and forensic studies. In 2015 there were 190 (144 men and 46 women), in 2016, 227 (201-26); 2017, 195 (155-40); 2018, 246 (204-42), and so far this year, already 12 cases have been registered in the state (11-1).
The national suicide rate is 5.4% while Yucatan has a rate of 11%, more than double the average. This percentage and the high incidence of suicides keep the state among the first five places in Mexico.
In 2017 it ranked fourth nationally, but in that year the number of deaths fell due to a strong prevention campaign that was carried out; however, in 2018 the cases increased dramatically, so Yucatán ranked fourth nationwide.
According to the statistical and medical research of the Subdirectorate of Mental Health, represented by psychiatrist Arsenio Rosado Franco, 83% of the suicides are committed by men while only 17% are committed by women.
The age ranges with the highest prevalence are from 18 to 29 years old, with 69 cases; from 30 to 39, with 41 cases; from 40 to 49, also with 41 cases; from 50-59, with 19 cases; and from 60 to 69, with 21 cases registered.
Statistics show that single people are more prone to commit suicide in Yucatán, since during 2018 there were 102 single persons who committed suicide, 79 married, 30 living in free-union (unión libre); 4 divorced, 7 widowed and 7 separated from their sentimental partner (but not officially divorced).
TYT Newsroom with information from yucatan.com.mx
