“France is one of the European countries most affected by this scourge” of suicide, according to the National Suicide Observatory, in 2020. Suicide caused the death of 9,300 people in 2016 in metropolitan France, according to data from this public body of the DREES, the statistics service of the health and social ministries. And about 200,000 suicide attempts have been recorded by health care services per year.
The freedom of anonymity
On the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10, we evoke, for our appointment “La Bulle” of the podcast Wait a minute!, the importance of speaking, anonymously, to free oneself from one’s ills, for a moment… Or longer. The guest of this episode is Ghislaine Desseigne, president of SOS Friendshipa French federation of associations, recognized as being of public utility since 1967. SOS provides a hotline, a chat and an mail addressto listen and dialogue, anonymously, with people in psychological distress. His telephone number, available 7 days a week and 24 hours a day, is 09 72 39 40 50.
The causes of the evils are multiple, recalls Ghislaine Desseigne in this episode. Loneliness, difficulties at work, at school, in the couple, the family, disability, harassment… but also the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, or, in this new school year, climate change or the decline purchasing power. “We’ve had 30% more calls since the Covid, and we haven’t lost them since,” notes Ghislaine Desseigne. Who calls ? From very young people, “sometimes 11 years old”, from students, to older people.
“We had 30% more calls since the Covid”
What do the association’s volunteer listeners do? To listen and dialogue with a person in psychological distress, who is listening, and what are their skills? What are the ways to reach volunteer listeners? These are the questions of this interview to listen to for free above.
Wait a minute ! is the news podcast of 20 minutes. You can listen to it on all online listening apps and platformsas apple podcast, Spotify, Deezer Where podcast addict for example. To write to us: [email protected]