Mental Health - 2019

Formulation of guidelines for the prevention of suicide among indigenous children and adolescents of the prioritized indigenous communities of Amazonas, Vaupés and Guainía.

In the second semester of 2019 we participated in this project that was led by the National University of Colombia, Amazon headquarters, with funding from the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare. Its purpose was to formulate guidelines for the prevention of suicide among children and adolescents of the prioritized indigenous communities in the departments of Amazonas, Vaupés and Guainía.

The project was implemented in four phases. In the first phase, an action plan was developed and secondary information was collected on social, individual, family and cultural aspects related to mental health, with emphasis on suicidal behaviors in the targeted indigenous communities of the three departments. The second phase consisted of field work with the communities and relevant institutions during which information was collected on the individual, family, social and cultural risk factors that influence suicidal behaviors in this population and on the notions and practices that contribute to their prevention. Likewise, during this phase, cases of suicide and attempted suicide among indigenous children and adolescents in the prioritized departments and communities were identified. During the third phase, a participatory construction of the guidelines was carried out and in the fourth and final phase, both the guidelines and the proposed actions for the prevention of suicide among indigenous children and adolescents were validated with the prioritized communities.

At the end of this process:

• A clearer picture in the three departments about the mental health situation and suicidal behaviors.

• Details of the context of the prioritized communities and indigenous peoples that allowed for a more situational analysis of the suicide situation and its determinants.

• Databases on cases of suicide and attempted suicide of indigenous children and adolescents in the three departments and in the prioritized communities with epidemiological data and also qualitative information on the cases reported both at the national level and by the departmental and municipal Health Secretariats of each territory.

• Methodological inputs, findings and recommendations from the collaborative work between the Sinergias team, indigenous co-researchers and the community, which contribute to the prevention of suicidal behaviors in these territories.

• Recommendations to the agents of the National Family Welfare System to address suicide in indigenous groups in the Amazon region.

• A proposal for an Action Plan and pilot for the intervention of suicidal behaviors in indigenous children and adolescents.