Balearics helpline gets 14 calls a day for help
The Balearic Islands’ Teléfono de la Esperanza helpline dealt with 2,503 calls in the first half of the year — an average of 14 pleas for help every day. That was almost 50% more than in the same period last year. In Palma, Mallorca, spokesman Lino Salas presented the figures on Wednesday.
Most callers were women aged 45 to 60 who were married, separated, divorced or widowed. Many called over self-harm, a profound sense of emptiness or eating disorders. Others sought support over gender-based violence, bereavement, migration, housing problems or severe poverty.
Fourteen people contacted the service after injuring themselves without intending to die by suicide, twice the number a year earlier. Salas said people may harm themselves “to break the anxiety”.
He also described callers who have work, a home and enough food but still feel an emptiness that needs attention before it turns into suicidal thoughts. Bullying and cyberbullying were cited as triggers for eating disorders.
The helpline received calls from 32 women about gender-based violence. Men also got in touch, Salas said, after feeling guilty about rejection within their families.
In all, 66 people asked for help with suicide-related concerns, up from 47 in the same half of last year. Salas said the rise showed that the service was reaching more people.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com