The SAMU 061 attends more than 2,100 cases for suicidal behavior in the Balearics until August and registers 35 deaths

PalmaThe Balearic Islands are facing an increase in requests for help related to emotional suffering and suicidal behavior. The Telephone of Hope (Telèfon de l'Esperança) has handled 2,503 calls during the first semester of 2026, almost 50% more than in the same period last year, while the SAMU 061 has received 2,138 alerts for suicidal ideation or attempts between January and August, with 35 deaths recorded. The figures were released by the Government on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day, which is commemorated this Thursday, in a context where administrations and organizations insist on the need to detect and address suffering before it leads to suicidal behavior.

In the case of the Telephone of Hope, the 2,503 calls in the first semester represent an average of 14 requests for help each day. The majority profile of the people who turn to the service is that of adult women between 45 and 60 years old, married, separated, divorced, or widowed. Self-harm, existential crises, and eating disorders are among the main reasons for consultation, along with situations of gender-based violence, grief, migration, social exclusion, or problems related to housing.

One of the increases that most worries the organization is that of non-suicidal self-harm. During the first six months of the year, it has assisted 14 people for this reason, double the number in the same period last year. The spokesperson for the Telephone of Hope, Lino Salas, explained that people who self-harm often do so with the goal of stopping or relieving "anxiety".

Consultations related to suicidal behavior have also increased. In total, 66 people have asked for help for this issue during the first semester, compared to 47 in the same period last year. Salas attributes part of the increase to the fact that the service is becoming better known and reaching more people.

2,138 alerts to 061 and 35 deaths in eight months

SAMU 061 data also shows the scope of situations related to suicidal behavior. Between January and August, the emergency medical service received 2,138 calls for ideation or suicide attempts, with 35 deaths recorded. The figure is already approaching that of the whole of 2025, when 061 received 2,488 alerts for these reasons—an average of 6.8 per day—and 49 deaths were recorded.

Regarding completed suicides, the provisional data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) cited by the Ministry of Health indicate that the Balearic Islands recorded 94 deaths by suicide in 2025: 70 men and 24 women. This is four fewer than in 2024, when 98 were recorded. In the country as a whole, suicide remains the leading external cause of death. In 2025, 3,808 deaths were recorded for this cause, according to the provisional data from the INE.

Coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day, the Government's Directorate General for Mental Health will launch the #EveryConversationCounts campaign, an initiative that aims to involve citizens in the detection and prevention of suicidal behavior. The campaign includes a series of videos featuring people with personal experience and professionals from Ib-Salut and various organizations. The central message is that "anyone can play an important role in suicide prevention."

The Ministry of Health insists that you do not need to have all the answers or know exactly what to say to someone who is suffering. "Often, the most important thing is to be there, listen, show interest, and let the other person know they are not alone," points out the department led by Manuela García. Health also recalls that talking about suicide responsibly does not increase the risk, but can help detect situations of suffering, encourage seeking help, and reduce stigma. The campaign thus calls for "talking, listening, accompanying, and seeking support when necessary."

More training and a surveillance system

In addition to the campaign, the Government has strengthened various prevention programs this year. One of them is the suicide prevention literacy program aimed at the university community, developed with the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), which has already trained nearly 300 students this year and expects to reach 300 more students before the end of the year.

A care team for people with chronic illness or pain and risk of suicide has also been set up, which supports the care and prevention programs that are already operating in public hospitals.

For December, two training sessions on how to act in risk situations are planned, aimed at firefighters, 112, 061, and police personnel. In addition, the Government plans to train 300 local police officers during the first semester of 2027. At the same time, the Directorate General for Mental Health and the Health Service have begun working on the creation of an epidemiological surveillance system for suicidal behavior in the Balearic Islands. The goal is to convert the currently dispersed available data into "useful knowledge to improve prevention."

The project will have the scientific and technical support of a research team from the UIB and will have a budget of 78,169 euros, coming from the funds that the Ministry of Health allocates to the autonomous communities for mental health surveillance. In the event of an emergency or immediate risk, 112 has psychology professionals available. You can also contact the Ministry of Health's suicide behavior helpline, 024, and the Telèfon de l'Esperança (Hope Telephone) of the Balearic Islands, at 971 46 11 12.