Because of “multi-crisis”
Suicide counseling at Pro Juventute has doubled
In 2022, Pro Juventute received twice as many consultations on suicidal thoughts from children and young people every day as before the pandemic in 2019. Crisis interventions have also increased significantly. The youth welfare organization sees the “multi-crisis” as the trigger.
Published: 9 minutes ago
Children and adolescents are currently waiting months for psychiatric treatment. (icon picture)
In 2019 there were 57 crisis interventions because of the risk of suicide, but in 2022 the number had almost tripled to 161 interventions, Pro Juventute wrote at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. In such situations, the telephone or online advice center 147 calls the police or an ambulance. Previously, Radio SRF had reported on the plight of the youth in the program “Tagessprach”.
The number of suicidal ideation consultations for 147 has doubled from 3 to 4 daily in 2019 to 7 to 8 last year. The consulting effort has increased by a total of 40 percent in the last two years. Eating disorders and self-harm are also a big issue. The consultations on the subject of fear have increased by 30 percent.
The specialist organization for children and young people attributes the increased numbers primarily to the “multi-crisis”. “Corona pandemic, climate crisis, war in Ukraine, threatening inflation, social injustice: crises overlap and hit children and young people in a particularly vulnerable phase of life,” writes Pro Juventute.
According to Pro Juventute, children and young people are currently waiting a long time for an opportunity to talk or be treated. Before the pandemic, it took an average of one month to six weeks for young people to get an appointment for psychiatric treatment. The waiting period has now been extended to several months.
In 2021, for example, clinics in Bern and Zurich reported more than 50 percent of suicidal minors in the emergency departments than in the previous year. Politicians are called upon to improve care for young people and children, for example with low-threshold offers and prevention. (SDA)
You can find help here
These offices are available around the clock for people in suicidal crises and for those around them:
Addresses for people who have lost someone through suicide
These offices are available around the clock for people in suicidal crises and for those around them:
Addresses for people who have lost someone through suicide