The Council of Ministers has approved this Tuesday the creation of the Observatory for Suicide Prevention, an interministerial body attached to the Ministry of Health through the Mental Health Commissioner. From the Executive, they point out that this initiative is in line with its commitment to coordinate efforts and offer a comprehensive response to one of the main public health challenges.
The Observatory is framed within the Action Plan for Suicide Prevention 2025-2027 and has specific funding of 17.83 million euros.
In data
According to the latest data from the INE (2024), suicide remains the second cause of external death in Spain, with 3,953 deaths (2,902 men and 1,051 women). Globally, the WHO estimates that more than 700,000 people die annually from this cause, being the third cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29.
"Suicide is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon that requires coordinated interventions from different areas", they point out from Health. In this context, the Observatory will play a central role in improving available information, promoting joint analysis, and facilitating decisions in public policies.
The Observatory will have representatives from ministries such as Presidency, Justice, Interior, Education, Labor, Equality, Digital Transformation, Youth and Childhood, as well as from organizations such as the INE, Carlos III Health Institute, IMSERSO, Women's Institute, INCIBE and RENFE.
It is also foreseen the creation of working groups with experts to address key areas of suicide and its prevention.