133 suicides for three years in Kosovo

According to psychologists and sociologists, mental problems are daily worldwide without excluding Kosovo. But who say that the commitment of institutions to prevent this phenomenon should increase. Campaigns and sensational campaigning, social dialogue and the exclusion of the mental - health stigma are some ways that health experts say would affect reducing the number of suicides and attempted suicides.

For these kinds of problems, in many parts of the world there is a “quality life” where citizens are directed to talk about their problems under anonymity, which has been missing in Kosovo for a long time.

But since November 2019 this line has been opened that deals with people who have thoughts about suicide or even need to talk to someone. This line also has 30 volunteers working between 6:00 and 2: 00 a.m.

Dorentina Podrimqaku, project manager at “Life Line” in a pronomation for KosovaPress shows activities that they have taken in the month devoted to suicide prevention.

And we're doing different training all the time, and different campaigning through our social networks where people can see the way they take care of themselves, the way they take care of each other. During this month, which is also the month of the suicide prevention of our campaign is called Word for Word, which means that the more the mental - health discussion increases on how people around us are feeling, and by that we're trying to lower their mental - health stigma and lower their suicide stigma,”

The clinical psychologist, Visar Sadiku, in a proposal for Kosova Prees, says the month of September should be used to the maximum to sensationalise the outlook on the importance of mental health, but also to boost efforts to prevent suicide.

It's not by chance that we have September as the beginning of the month in which maybe people who have had preliminary history of mental health problems are the month that provokes them further to emigrate in these difficulties. With the duration of the nights, the duration of the darkness seems to affect those who have had earlier depression to make their symptoms worse, apart from those who do not accept psychological treatments or to overcome their situation. Psychologically, there is often some kind of discussion that is heard among people who say that those who talk about suicide will not, the problem is that every time suicide is mentioned is the most critical moment in which all necessary measures must immediately be taken to prevent it”, Sadiku said.

Batije Sylejmani-Credell, sociologist, tells Kosovo that suicides are a phenomenon that can be prevented, so it requires youth not to hesitate to consult psychologists and sociologists about the problems they think are weighing down on.

Sensible campaigns and youth activities say they are among the ways that can influence the prevention of this phenomenon.

And we see that usually between the ages of 15 and 30 in all statistics, this is the age when young people need more activities, they take their time, spend their time, analyze their energy in something useful, don't take an extremely narrow life, and don't narrow themselves down. What can we do as a society? We can initiate activities for young people who would be good for them, but also good for the community. For example, we can run sensational campaigns so that young people don't hesitate to consult psychologists or sociologists, or competent individuals who can help me find themselves by day since I analyzed their energy”, she showed.

The World Day of Suicide Prevention, marked on September 10th each year, aims to raise awareness and promote preventive measures for reducing the number of suicides.