Suicide attempts in Colombia will drop by 4.8% in 2025, but young people and women continue to be the most affected.

With the goal of making decisions that contribute to the mental well-being of the population, the National Institute of Health (INS) has prioritized the generation and analysis of information related to the mental health of Colombians from a public health perspective.

Along these lines, it is working to strengthen the quality and timeliness of data through the National Public Health Surveillance System (Sivigila) and the National Health Observatory of the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INS), in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

In this regard, INS Director Diana Pava said that each registration is more than just a number. In reality, they are people who at some point "faced situations that made them feel like they had no way out."

Therefore, she emphasized the importance of taking care of each other, of stopping the stigmatization of mental health issues, and of fostering spaces for dialogue and support. "We shouldn't feel ashamed to talk about what we're going through or to seek help," she emphasized.

So far this year, as of September 27, 28,290 suicide attempts have been reported to Sivigila in the country. Of the total, 63 percent were women (17,839 cases) and 37 percent were men (10,451 cases). In the same period last year, 29,730 cases were reported, representing a 4.8 percent decrease in records.

The age range with the highest proportion of cases is between 15 and 29 years (56.6%). Factors identified as triggers for suicide attempts include: family problems, 36.7%; conflict with a partner or ex-partner, 26.4%; financial problems, 10.8%; school or educational problems, 8%; physical, psychological, or sexual abuse, 6.3%; death of a family member or friend, 5.6%; work problems, 5.2%; chronic painful or disabling illness, 3.9%; legal problems, 2.1%; and suicide of a family member or friend, 1%.

Risk factors such as a history of psychiatric disorder , depressive disorder, substance use, alcohol abuse, family history of suicidal behavior, and history of violence and abuse have also been detected, which should be a cause for alertness and attention within family, school, and social support networks.

Suicide attempts tend to be concentrated on Sundays and Mondays, suggesting the need to strengthen emotional support and support during the weekends.

The territorial entities with the highest proportion of reported cases of attempted suicide are Bogotá with 14.8 percent (4,187 cases), Antioquia with 14.6 percent (1,141), Cundinamarca with 7.2 percent (2,029), Cali with 5.5 percent (1,543) and Santander with 4.7 percent (1,343 cases).

Pava, a toxicology expert, calls for promoting healthy environments and strengthening communication in "settings like home and work; the latter is where people spend most of their time," she stated, adding that "mental health is not just the responsibility of the health sector; it's the responsibility of society as a whole. We must strengthen resilience," she emphasized.

If you or someone you know needs emotional support, contact the National Mental Health Tele-Counseling Line or the mental health hotlines available in your area, which in Colombia is 106. This channel is available 24/7 and offers psychological support and guidance in times of crisis.

Anyone who attempts suicide may try to do it again, hence the importance of medical support—a psychologist or psychiatrist—and monitoring their behavior.