Suicide and Local Management in Bilbao: Analysis of Resources and Needs for Suicide Prevention

Cristina Blanco, Tamara Riquelme and Sofía Rivera

Suicide prevention requires coordinated, multisectoral and well-founded measures targeted at specific populations. Local Management plays a crucial role in this regard

Local Management is the closest to the people, familiar with the specific community it serves, has the potential to influence their daily reality, and possesses resources and skills to do so. Furthermore, it is closely connected with the most vulnerable groups within a specific community, both on an individual and social level. For all these reasons, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Local Management can play a crucial role in suicide prevention, regardless of whether there is a national suicide prevention plan in the country of reference.

The absence of a comprehensive national suicide prevention strategy should not prevent countries from implementing suicide prevention interventions. In many countries without a strategy, a wide range of concerned parties are involved in suicide prevention activities, from organizing support groups to raising awareness and advocating for at-risk individuals." (WHO, "Living Life: Implementation Guide for Suicide Prevention in Countries. 2021: 1).

Among the numerous prevention agents mentioned by the WHO, Local Management holds a priority position. This study is part of the academic context of the UPV/EHU's "University Specialist in Suicidology" for 2022-2023. It is a final project prepared by two students who conducted their research internships at Aidatu (Basque Association of Suicidology / Euskal Suizidologia Elkartea), Sofía Rivera and Tamara Riquelme, under the supervision of Cristina Blanco, director of the postgraduate course and president of the association.

Studying the possibilities of conducting a work that is not solely academic and theoretical, but rather practical and useful, which could address the real needs of our environment to take steps forward in suicide prevention, we understood that it could be interesting to focus on Local Management as a prevention agent, especially in a universal sense. The idea was to understand this scope of action regarding skills, information, structures, tools, etc., that could serve as a launching pad or anchor for specific actions that could be part of a future Local Suicide Prevention Plan.

The methodology regarding data collection was mixed (quantitative and qualitative), including normative and legal documentation, collection and analysis of statistical information, and conducting various interviews with representatives of strategic municipal areas. The report is structured around four parts; two of them are general and theoretical (the first addresses the fundamental bases of suicidal behavior according to the main theories handled by experts in the field, and the second describes the different ways to act in suicide prevention, especially from an institutional and public point of view); a third part dedicated to the specific case of Bilbao, and the fourth part summarizes the main findings obtained (in terms of resources, competencies, and needs) and provides recommendations for developing a future Local Suicide Prevention Plan.

Reference:

https://aidatu.org/informe-suicidio-y-administracion-local-en-bilbao/

Blanco, C.; Riquelme, T. y Rivera, S. (2023) Suicidio y Administración Local en Bilbao. Análisis de recursos y necesidades para la prevención del suicidio. Aidatu, Bilbao