September 10th is Suicide Prevention Day, with continued attention towards awareness due to an increase in the phenomenon since the pandemic.
The Secretary of Health in Jalisco, Fernando Petersen Aranguren, has instructed the Jalisco Institute of Mental Health (SALME,) to make an effort on the issue of promotion of awareness and suicide prevention since the incidence continues to grow, and especially because it affects our young people.
He pointed out that the campaign "You Are Not Alone, You Are Not Alone, We Are With You," is an accompaniment to all those who require it; for people who feel alone at some point in their life and not only affects the person who suffers it but of the friend or family member who shares it.
"We want to tell people to trust the institutions. SALME is made up of 875 people who work every day so that the person is better, so that the person finds peace, tranquility, and of course improvement of their symptoms," said the official.
As part of the activities around the commemoration of the World Suicide Prevention Day, SALME and the Jalisco Health Secretariat (SSJ), in coordination with the San Pedro Tlaquepaque City Council, carried out a photographic exhibition for the "You Are Not Alone" campaign in the municipality.
The sample is composed of photographs that were captured by 18 students from the photography workshop of the School of Plastic Arts of San Pedro Tlaquepaque, showing aspects around suicide and this year’s prevention campaign.
Francisco Javier Ramírez Barreto mentioned that said work carried out by the students of the photography workshop of the School of Plastic Arts of the Potter municipality is an example of the alliance in favor of the health and well-being of the population.
Margarita Ríos Cervantes, director of the Municipal Medical Services of San Pedro Tlaquepaque, mentioned that “this World Suicide Prevention Day the municipal government seeks to remind and reinforce that there are alternatives to this phenomenon and thus provide hope.”
Jesús Alfonso Lemus Navarro, child psychiatrist and head of SALME Education, and also a participant with the photograph entitled "Intrinsic," explained that this work reflects the full confidence that doctors and psychologists prevent suicide or encourage against it to those who have already thought about it.
Among the photographic works that will be exhibited during the month of September in the SALME lobby in Zapopan, there are titles such as: Tornado of Dreams, Intrinsic, Shelter to the Heart, I am with you, You are not alone, Son mine, I'm here, and China street.